Everything was going wrong for Mascenic. The Viking boys’ volleyball team lost their first two matches of the season coming into Thursday’s game against Dover. After jumping out to an early lead against Dover, the Vikings let the first game slip away and were well on their way to losing the second when setter and captain Israel Pyhala dove for a ball along the sideline and came down awkwardly on his ankle.
“I heard it snap,” he said matter-of-factly, hopping back on the court. It was immediately clear that he couldn’t go, and he left the game.
“Losing a setter is pretty much the most devastating thing that can happen in a volleyball game,” said first-year coach Lauren Somero. “It’s kind of an irreplaceable position — it’s kind of like losing your quarterback.”
Somero said that her team looked to have the advantage over Dover as far as size and athleticism, but losing Pyhala “leveled the playing field.” But with their captain out, the rest of the Vikings stepped up.
Mikeal Bowen found himself in Pyhala’s position, and though the team suffered a bit in their rotations, garnering a few penalties in that regard, Bowen and the Vikings did what they had to do.
“[Bowen] really stepped up huge tonight,” Somero said.
The Vikings lost the second game and went into the third knowing they’d need to take three straight games to win the match.
“A lot of times early in the season without a lot of experience, that’s difficult to wrap your head around, let alone pull off,” Somero said.
Yet as the game went on, the intensity built, the Vikings got fired up (you could have heard freshman Jacob Zina’s war whoops up on the hill at baseball practice) and Mascenic powered through.
The Vikings boast some serious height in the middle hitter position, and between the Totaro brothers, Zachary (one kill, one block) and Michael (five kills, two blocks), and Micah Howard (five kills, two tips), they owned the net in the latter half of the match.
“I’m so proud of [Howard], Somero said. “He’s such a diverse player with the ability to hit the ball anywhere on the floor and he really proved it tonight.”
Mascenic was able to pull off the come-from-behind victory, winning three straight games and the match, much to the delight of senior Daniel Moran.
“Now everybody knows we’re serious,” Moran said, “and that we will fight for every last game. That’s what I wanted to get down today and that’s what we did.”
Mascenic (1-2) is off until next Monday, when they travel to Windham (1-1) at 5:15 p.m.