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The Vikings huddle up during their match against the Rams. Woodbridge beat Robinson, 3-2. 
DigitalSports.com
Content Manager — Prince William County
pfrommelt@digitalsports.com
Click here for a photo gallery from the game.
Click here for DigitalSports.com's Prince William Volleyball Central.
Click here for DigitalSports.com's Northern Region Volleyball Central.
*Look below for video highlights of Woodbridge's epic victory over Robinson, including video interviews with Vikings Katie Maksanty, Paola Perez, Theresa McElroy and head coach Mary Kerski.
After each point, the Woodbridge volleyball bench shot out of their chairs with excitement. The team on the floor huddled together with excitement. The fans on the Vikings' side of the stands went crazy, waving a giant green flag with the school's familiar "W" logo. The Vikings' were playing with postseason intensity.
It's a good sign — considering it was only their fourth game of the year against an out-of-region opponent.
But Woodbridge's 3-2 victory over the Northern Region's Robinson Secondary School meant more to the Vikings than a check in the win column.
"This team is just learning how to use their momentum," said Woodbridge head coach Mary Kerski. "Once they find it – once they find their stride, they are close to unbeatable."
The match started out innocently enough, with a 25-17 victory for Woodbridge in game one. Robinson countered with a 25-21 win in game two.
It was then, however, when things got much more interesting.
The Rams took a 16-10 lead midway through the third game and looked to be on their way to a 2-1 lead. The Rams were one point away, at 24-20, before the Vikings started their comeback. 24-20 turned into 24-21, then 24-22 when a Robinson spike hit out of bounds. A Woodbridge ace made the score 24-23 and a block by the Vikings' Katie Maksanty tied the match. A Woodbridge error gave the Rams a 25-24 lead before Maksanty blocked another ball to tie up the score once more. A Kelly Morrissey kill gave Woodbridge a 26-25 lead, but a service error tied up the score once more. Yet another block by Maksanty gave the Vikings a 27-26 lead and a Robinson spike sailed wide to complete Woodbridge's comeback.
"We are still shaking," said Woodbridge's Paola Perez after the match. "We fought really hard and we really wanted it."
While game three was won, the match was far from over. Robinson came right back with a 25-23 victory in the fourth game to send the match into a 15-point final game. Before the fifth game, Kerski saw her players calm and confident in the huddle.
"My girls just know how to pull together. They’ve got some great heads on their shoulders," she said.
With the match on the line, the Vikings dominated, winning 15-5. Maksanty, who finished with a team-high eight kills scored two of the final three points for the Vikings and Perez, who had 50 assists and 17 digs, finished out the Rams with one of her six aces.
"They were able to put the ball where it needed to go and we have been working all week long to get ready for Robinson," said Kerski. "They showed me what they did in practice. I am really proud of them."
The win improved the Vikings record to 4-0 on the young season, with a key game against Forest Park scheduled for Sept. 23.
"We tried to hit the ground running this year. I’ve come back with eight seniors. The whole team is returning," said Kerski. "They know where to go and they know where I am going to lead them."
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