Aviano’s Mayci Salmon almost appears to have divine assistance while setting the ball Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, against Rota. But the Admirals prevailed in five sets. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy – On paper, it was a mismatch: defending DODEA-Europe Division II champion Aviano – 9-1 this season – against Rota, which had lost all seven of its matches.
Unfortunately for the Saints, the match wasn’t played on paper, but instead on the floor of Ken McNeely Gymnasium.
The Admirals hung around, then stunned the Saints 21-25, 15-25, 25-21, 25-11, 18-16 on Saturday – just two weeks before the final matches of the season will be played at the championships in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.
“It’s a great time for this to happen,” Rota coach Lilia Anderson said. “I think we have an excellent team. We’ve just been building it up and …”
The Admirals withstood a barrage of kills from Aviano 6-footer Addison Krajicek, who transferred in from Phoenix after the Saints won last year’s title. Aviano lost two of its top hitters – Sophia Fisher and Elaina Holsclaw – to transfer. But the addition of Krajicek along with senior returners Mayci Salmon and Jaycee Spence gives the Saints a solid core.
“They’ve got three excellent players,” Anderson said.
But after those three helped the Saints take the first two sets, the momentum suddenly shifted. Rota stormed back to even up the match. Aviano took a 5-0 lead in the final set, only to see Rota score six straight. Two Krajicek kills gave the Saints back the lead. The Admirals then scored seven straight. The Saints followed by scoring seven straight to go up 14-13. After that, the teams traded points until the game ended with an Aviano mishit.
Aviano’s Addison Krajicek skies well above the net to spike the ball Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, while Rota’s Pamela Munoz defends. The Admirals won in five sets. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Kate Warkentien bumps the ball - and avoids getting swiped by red shadows on the wall - in the Admirals’ five-set victory over Aviano on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Alana Geylani sends the ball over the net while Aviano’s Jazmyn Warren waits for it in the Admirals’ five-set victory on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Jazmyn Warren follows through after a quick spike Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, against the Rota Admirals. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Amaya Petty has her eyes on the ball as teammate Kate Warkentein watches her bump it up to the front row in the Admirals’ five-set victory Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, over the Aviano Saints. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Jaycee Spence digs the ball to set up the Saints’ attack Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in a match against Rota at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Madison Lewis stretches forward to dig the ball up and send it towards a teammate in the front row in the Admirals’ five-set victory over the Aviano Saints on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Pamela Munoz hits through the block of Aviano’s Jaycee Spence in the Admirals’ five-set victory over the Saints on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano coach Michael Gros found himself in a similar situation last season after his team suffered its only defeat of the season to Division III Ansbach in a split at Aviano. Both teams went on to win titles.
“They just have to keep their heads right and play their game and not someone else’s,” Gros said after the loss. “Our starters are fine. We have some depth. We just didn’t play the way we should be playing.”
Though it wasn’t dominant, Aviano did look stronger at the beginning of the day. Salmon’s tip over the net and an ace from Spence helped the Saints score the final four points of the first set. And a Spence bump to set up a Salmon set and a Krajicek spike finished off the second set.
Two aces by Krajicek put the Saints up 12-5 in the third set before it all fell apart.
Aviano’s Xavier Fox pushes the ball towards the outstretched hands of Rota’s Christian Weaver on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in the Saints’ four-set victory. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Tyler DeMeritt watches his spike reach the block of Aviano’s Carl Greene during the Saints’ four-set victory over the Admirals on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Jules La Salle is all over a spike from Rota’s Noah Snider during the Saints’ four-set victory over the Admirals on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Brian Leiba watches the ball bounces off the Aviano block of Kaleb Nunez and Trevor Drummond in the Saints’ four-set victory Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Cristiano Peterson connects during a spike against the Rota Admirals on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Aviano’s Kaleb Nunez sets the ball back towards his teammates Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in the Saints’ four-set victory over the Rota Admirals. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Rota’s Tyler DeMeritt tosses the ball over the net towards Aviano on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in the Saints’ four-set victory over the Admirals. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Boys
At 6-2, junior Xavier Fox is Aviano’s tallest player and arguably its best spiker. But the Saints did the most damage Saturday against the Admirals when he was in the back of the court.
Fox had 15 kills, but also had nine aces and seemingly handled every dig opportunity he had to stop Rota rallies and set up his teammates as the Saints won 25-23, 20-25, 25-11, 25-22.
“As long as he’s on the court, I don’t care where he is,” Aviano coach Logan Riley said. “He’s the guy we count on when we need a big point.”
A few of Fox’s kills came from the backline. But when he was back there, Aviano also got strong play at the net from Cristiano Peterson (13 kills) and Jules La Salle.
Two of Fox’s aces broke a 21-21 tie in the first set and the Saints scored the next two points to win.
After Rota evened the match, Aviano took a commanding lead of 22-10 while Fox was serving in the third set. The Saints grabbed a 17-13 advantage in the fourth with Fox serving again and then traded points to the victory.
Rota coach Edward DeMeritt hopes he’ll see a different team when all DODEA-Europe’s boys teams gather for the championships in Vicenza.
“We just came out flat and got into our own heads,” he said. “We’ll play better.”
