CHICOPEE – With a chance at program history, the Southwick boys volleyball team emerged as champions Saturday.
The No. 1 Rams defeated a dangerous second-seeded Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, 3-2, in the PVIAC Western Massachusetts Class C championship at Chicopee Comp High School.
Set scores were 25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-7.
“I’ve been with this school for 18 years,” Southwick coach Kaitlyn Anthony said. “Before I ever decided to leave, I wanted to get that recognition for the kids and the program. We’ve been around for a while, and now it’s our time to get a banner. It means a lot to me personally and this group of kids really deserved it.”
Anthony started coaching for the boys program 10 years ago, and has logged 18 years as the coach of the girls program for Southwick. The victory marked the first-ever sectional championship for the program. After taking the first set, the Rams watched as the Eagles won two straight and had an early lead in the fourth.
The Rams had trouble with PVCA’s Sam Washington, who had 11 kills for the Eagles. Most of the kills were of the thunderous variety at opportune moments for PVCA.
“We got really flustered,” Anthony said. “He (Washington) was really cranking on us. We weren’t as confident, and the energy just sunk. Everyone looked depleted.”
Then everything changed. After some timeouts and discussions, the body language improved, and so did the play for the Rams. Southwick then won two straight to secure the win.
“PVCA was out-screaming us,” Anthony said. “They (PVCA) were on fire. I told them (Southwick), if we don’t match this, this is over. But something clicked.”
That something might have been the play of Nicolas Spina, who had five kills in the deciding fifth set and had 29 kills in the match. There seemed to be a lull in Spina’s play, but he performed at the highest level when it mattered the most for his team.
“I was playing with confidence,” Spina said. I know I can do it, I’ve done it before. But in the third and fourth, I was not playing up to my usual standards. But I was believing in myself. My teammates kept telling me I’ve got this.”
Spina added 20 digs to help fortify the defense. Captain Max Salvador had 24 digs for the Rams.
“We cleaned up our mistakes,” Salvador said. “We came together as a team and pulled through and won. It’s incredible. We worked so hard. We came a long way as a team. It’s incredible to be the first in our program to do it.”
Fellow captain Phong Tran had 52 assists with six digs. River Thompson helped the offense with 25 kills.
PVCA became the first Western Mass. finalist in the school’s history, in any sport. The Eagles are in their second season as a varsity program. The Eagles maintained several leads in the fourth set with a chance to close out the Rams.
“Maybe we were a little tired,” PVCA coach Bethany Souza said. “We are a small school. But you can’t replicate the experience. I’m gonna take this into states.”
The Eagles game-planned for Spina, and in the second and third set did a good job of limiting his hitting ability.
“He (Spina) started to adjust,” Souza said. “Once he got momentum that broke our momentum.”
Eli Souza had 35 assists for the Eagles, while adding six digs. Andy Axtmann led the hitters with 14 kills. Isaac Souza had 14 digs for PVCA. Myron Callender chipped in with eight kills. Washington led the defense with six blocks.
