The Johnston volleyball team was one point away from its first championship since 2004 on Saturday afternoon at the University of Rhode Island’s Keaney Gymnasium.
The point never came.
Leading 14-8 in the decisive fifth game of the Division III championship, the Panthers watched Central win eight consecutive points to capture the title in stunning fashion with a 16-14 victory.
It was heartbreak for Johnston.
“I think they thought they won it before they won it,” said Johnston head coach Greta Lalli. “Their nerves got to them. That kind of thing can happen to any team.”
For Johnston, it just happened at the worst possible moment.
The Panthers and Knights were clearly the best two teams in Division III and they had split their two regular-season meetings. It was only fitting that they met in the final – and that it went to five games. Johnston won the first game 26-24, Central took game two 25-13, Johnston won game three 25-22 and Central forced a winner-take-all fifth game with a 25-17 win in game four.
To that point, the games had hinged on which team was making the fewest mistakes. But in the fifth game, the Panthers surged and played some of their best volleyball of the season, needing no help from the Knights to build their lead. Alex DiRaimo started the game with a kill, Erin Tvenstrup landed a tip in an open spot and Angela Gallucci served up two aces for a 5-2 lead. The Panthers then won six of the next eight points thanks to two kills and an ace by DiRaimo, an ace by Tvenstrup and a kill by Dana Desmarais, making it 11-4. Only one of Johnston’s points had come on a Central error.
“They played really well,” Lalli said. “They had a big lead, the crowd was behind them.”
The Knights got back to 12-8, but a service error and a hitting error gave the Panthers championship point at 14-8.
“I just told them at that point, we have to stay together, play together and stay poised,” said Central coach Donn Chu. “We can’t get out of character, can’t let our emotions get the best of us. You have to fight through it. Focus on one point at a time and anything can happen.”
Francesca Gaudiana had the serve for Johnston at 14-8 and she put it over the net. Central returned it, and Johnston couldn’t get an attack. Instead, Tvenstrup’s bump landed just over the end line.
That kept the Knights alive – and the next move in the rotation happened to represent their best chance. Senior captain Pavua Lor stepped to the service line, where she’d already spent a lot of time. Lor recorded six aces in the first four games, and was at the line for runs of four straight and six straight points.
“She’s our senior, our most experienced player,” Chu said. “She plays all year-round. She’s very consistent and that’s what I expect from her. I’m proud that with the game on the line, it happened to be my captain, my senior, the one who’s been there since freshman year.”
Her next run would win a championship.
At 14-9, the Panthers put together an attack but committed a hitting error. On Lor’s next serve, a bad first pass sent the Panthers scrambling and they never got the ball over. Central star Emily Sosa-Holquin then landed a kill to make it 14-12.
Suddenly it was a very different game, and the Panthers struggled to right the ship. Lor served up three consecutive aces to make it 15-14, and a large contingent of Central fans grew louder with each ball that hit the court.
The Panthers buckled down enough to return Lor’s next serve, but the Knights put together a perfect attack for Sosa-Harlequin, and she slammed the ball down in the middle to give Central the championship.
“I’m very proud,” Chu said. “It’s too bad that a team had to lose because both team splayed their hearts out. It was an unbelievable final. And it was a Hollywood ending for us.”
The flip side of that made for a tough ending on the Johnston bench, but the Panthers were gracious in defeat. There’s still a special year to look back on, even without the happy ending.
“I’m so proud of them,” Lalli said. “They deserved to be here. It was exciting – none of them have ever been to a championship before. They played their hearts out.”
The championship is the second girls’ volleyball title in Central history and the first since 1999.
Johnston will bid farewell to seniors DiRaimo, Tvenstrup and Victoria Parente.
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