Sigonella's Nyeema Fernandez manages to get the ball past the Vicenza wall of Alexandra Nelson, left, and Avonlea Sparling on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
VICENZA, Italy – If Friday night’s matchup between Naples and Black Forest Academy is any indication, no lead is safe in DODEA-Europe volleyball this season.
After blowing a commanding advantage in the opening set, the Falcons found themselves apparently just where they wanted to be in the third set: trailing 20-8. Black Forest staged an improbable rally and went on for a 25-27, 25-20, 26-24, 25-14 victory in the first official matches of the season for both teams.
“I would like to know how something like that happens,” BFA coach Kim McKell said. “But I just don’t.”
The match was one of five girls contests scheduled this weekend between the Falcons, Wildcats, Sigonella and host Vicenza. The Cougars swept the Jaguars 25-11, 25-16, 25-18 in the opening match of the two-day event that also features boys teams from all four schools. Three more girls and boys matches are set for Saturday.
Black Forest, last year’s Division II runner-up, led 23-18 in the first set before falling apart. Naples scored six straight points to take the lead and eventually came out on top.
That seemed to spur the Falcons a bit in the second set and they raced out to a 24-18 advantage. The Wildcats then scored a few points but couldn’t get closer.
In the third, though, the momentum changed again and Naples went up 20-8 before BFA scored five straight points. Still, the Wildcats were up 24-20 before the Falcons scored the final six points. Half of them came from plays at the net by 5-foot, 10-inch sophomore Priscilla Sivonen, whose two older brothers led the Germany based school to the last two DODEA-Europe boys titles.
The left-handed Sivonen then started the Falcons off in dominant fashion in the final set with five strong serves. Naples cut the deficit to 7-5, but never got closer.
While McKell was mystified by the fourth-set turnaround, Naples coach Zach Pierson had an idea.
“We just had a few players get in their own heads and they couldn’t get out again,” he said.
Both of the girls matches Friday showed signs of teams still getting to know each other, with an array of balls dropping untouched between players waiting for someone else to handle it. But Pierson, who has a large contingent of players back from last year’s squad, said he wasn’t expecting that from the Wildcats.
“It was an issue for us as well at the jamboree last weekend and something we’ve worked on,” he said. “And are going to work on again next week.”
Vicenza's Emily Bell gets to the ball before Sigonella's Alexandra Quintanilla on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in the Cougars' victory over the Jaguars in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza's Natalia Lopez sends the ball to the front row to start a Vicenza attack Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in the Cougars' victory over Sigonella. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza senior setter Maya Fitch sets the ball behind her towards Avonlea Sparling in the Cougars' three-set victory over Sigonella on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza's Yaneli Tellez stretches to block while Sigonella's Nyeema Fernandez gets set to tip the ball over the net Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Sigonella's Alexandra Quintanilla goes all out to try to keep the ball alive in the Jaguars' loss to Vicenza on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy libero Esther Lee bumps the ball while teammate Priscilla Sivonen watches Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in the Falcons' four-set victory over Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy's Hannah Kooiman tracks the ball coming down towards her while teammate Leah McKell looks on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in the Falcons' victory over Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples' Emma Heavey tries a quick set over the net against Black Forest Academy on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples' Anna Gose strains to block the ball Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in the Wildcats' four-set loss to Black Forest Academy in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples' Emma Heavey can't get the ball over the net past the Black Forest Academy defense of Hanna Kooiman, left, and Priscilla Sivonen on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Black Forest Academy's Xofia Wood gets the ball over the net Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, against Naples in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Two teams not nearly as experienced as Naples squared off to begin the event.
Vicenza, featuring eight freshman and five sophomores on the roster, traded blows with Sigonella early in each of the sets, but then gradually pulled away each time.
Cougars coach John Kohut said he’s got a lot of players who can play multiple positions, but finding where they fit in best is going to take some time. Still, he expects a “well-oiled machine” come tournament time in late October.
Sigonella, the only Division III team present, has only two players back who started any matches a season ago. The Jaguars won’t play a single D-III team until the tournament.
Coach Shawn McCarthy said his players just need matches.
“We’ve got to work on some defense and get players to anticipate rather than react,” he said. “And that just takes experience.”
