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The Patriots and Bruins huddle up on the court before their Northwest Region semifinal match. Click on the "Photos" link above for more pictures from the game.
By Paul Frommelt
Prince William Content Manager
Things were going exactly according to plan for Forest Park. After a 25-21 win over Albemarle in the first game of the Northwest Region volleyball semifinals — their sixth consecutive match won, dating back to the Cardinal District finals — the two-time defending region champs had a 15-13 lead in game two and looked poised for another Northwest Region finals appearance and a trip to the AAA VHSL tournament.
Then suddenly — jarringly — everything fell apart.
Albemarle took 12 of the next 17 points to win the game, 25-20. Feeding on the momentum, the Patriots took game three, 25-18, and finished the match out with a 25-19 win in the deciding game to advance to the region finals and end the Bruins' season.
"It kind of sucked the life out of us. It was a big win in the second game and [the momentum] shifted and we couldn’t get it back," said Forest Park head coach Jonathan Bukva. "We were just in a big hole and couldn’t climb out."
Albemarle head coach Mark Ragland was disappointed with what he saw from his squad during the the Patriots' initial game and told his squad to pick up the intensity in game two.
"We were very flat and very tentative," said Ragland. "The one thing that I told them to do was to work up the enthusiasm and encouragement for each other. We didn’t get into that until the second game."
Each point the Patriots scored in the second game elicited a roar from their side of the net. By game four, the Patriots were reacting like every point was game point. A cadre of Albemarle fans, decked out in red, matched the players reaction from the stands.
"That is a key in volleyball, when you have the momentum, that helps you a lot," said Ragland. "As soon as we realized that we could play with these guys, they finally said, ‘Okay, let’s just play.’"
Despite impressive days from Rachael (21 Kills) and Kellie Goss (8 blocks), the Bruins were unable to wrestle back any of that momentum.
"We got more hands on balls in games two, three and four and it didn’t stop their attack, but it definitely slowed it down," said Ragland. The Patriots' offensive attack was led by seniors Laura Gomez (19 kills, 2 blocks), Kara Elder (13 kills, 3 blocks) and junior Hannah Lawson (14 kills). Lawson and Elder also combined for 22 digs.
The loss ended a season in which the Bruins won their ninth consecutive district banner and saw many individual accomplishments. Both Goss sisters finished with over 300 kills and combined for nearly 100 aces. Kellie finished with over 200 blocks while Rachael contributed over 300 digs. Junior Emily Stewart finished with over 150 kills, over 250 digs and nearly 40 aces. Junior setter Stephanie Saunders ended her season with nearly 500 assists.
"I think that [the season] was successful because it gives us something to build on for next year," said Bukva. "Sure, we would love for the season to keep going. We started out pretty bad and the girls played their best ball at the end of the season, which is what you want."
