Things looked bleak for the Rome Free Academy boys volleyball team.
On Monday night, the Knights trailed Utica Proctor 10-2 and then 13-4 in a decisive fifth set. The first team to win by two points and reach 15 points will advance to the Section III Class B semifinals.
However, Rome Free Academy bounced back to take the final set 22-20 and stay alive for at least one more match.
“We fought back and gave them the win,” Rome Free Academy coach PJ Herron said. “It came down to who makes the mental mistake. Just a little something happened and we just put the ball in the right spot on the floor.”
Fourth-seeded Utica Proctor (9-10) was in its first year with the program and was looking for its first postseason win.
The Raiders won the first set 25-19. It was the only set decided by a difference of two points or more.
Fifth-seeded RFA won the next two sets, 25-23, and Proctor tied the score in the fourth with a 27-25 win.
In the fifth set, sophomore Jerry Flores-Pacheco stepped up.
“He was our server at the end and just kept pushing,” Herron said. “And he was our last line guy who kept saving the ball when they pushed deep and just flying around.”
But Herron was quick to point out that the win was a team effort.
“I’m so proud of them,” Herron said. “They did a great job of staying calm and playing together as a team most of all.”
Roma Free Academy (9-9)'s next game is Tuesday at Chittenango, the first leg of the road trip. The Bears have won against RFA twice this season, losing only one set in 18 games.
>>Bracket
2nd place Central Valley Academy 3, 7th place Little Falls 0
Xander Keniston contributed to the Thunder's victory with 12 kills, eight digs, and four aces.
Central Valley won by scores of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-11.
Central Valley Academy (16-4) will host No. 3 Vernon Verona Sherrill in Tuesday's semifinals. CVA shut out VVS twice this season.
Little Falls finishes the season with 3 wins and 13 losses.
No.3 Vernon Verona Sherrill 3, No.6 Oneida 0
It was the third time this season that the Red Devils defeated Oneida. The scores were 25-12, 25-20, 25-21.
For VVS, Owen Poppleton had 32 assists and six digs, Nicolas Lavesa-Cesana had 19 kills and seven digs, and Ryan Mitchell had 15 kills and seven digs.
Vernon Verona Sherrill (11-7) heads to No. 2 Central Valley Academy for Tuesday's semifinals.
Oneida finished the season with 6 wins and 12 losses.
