Southeast drops first game then rallies

By DONNIE WILKIE CORRESPONDENT

Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 11:30 p.m.

SARASOTA - Senior Night for Riverview High's volleyball team has become a happening the past several years, a chance to show off gym-sized smiles, crazy costumes and proud parents -- and an inevitable Rams victory.

But powerful Southeast wasn't as accommodating Tuesday night.

The Seminoles (16-8), ranked No. 4 in the Herald-Tribune's Super 7, overcame a slow start and spoiled the festivities for a half-dozen Ram seniors, 16-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-22.

"Senior Night is always really fun and exciting and the adrenaline's pumping," said setter Jenn Knoll. "I wish we had won, but that's not always going to happen. Southeast is a good team, and we knew that coming in."

Riverview coach Nina Singleton started seniors Knoll (34 assists, 14 digs), Andrea Snipes-Booker (11 kills, 10 digs), Danielle Ammeson (six digs, three kills) and Rachel Polley (three kills, two digs), with Casey Larkin (20 digs) at libero and Molly Kampmann (eight digs, three aces) first off the bench. They were dressed as princesses by the underclassmen for pre-game introductions.

The Rams had beaten Lakewood Ranch (twice), Cardinal Mooney, Charlotte and Bayshore in their past five Senior Nights.

"It is a humongous deal," Polley said.

But after a whirlwind start -- Riverview led 13-2 en route to winning the opening game -- they struggled to slow down Southeast hitters Amanda Garofalo (11 kills, six blocks) and Katie DiGirolamo (seven kills, three blocks).

"(Riverview) played well and I love the theme thing, but I don't feel bad for winning," DiGirolamo said.

Then, she paused to reconsider.

"Does that sound mean? I don't want to be mean."

DiGirolamo, a 5-foot-10 junior, was plenty mean when it mattered. She had a block and kill after the Rams (13-9), ranked No. 5 in the area, had rallied to tie the second game at 18-apiece, then added three kills and a block to help the 'Noles hold off a Riverview comeback in the fourth game.

Despite falling behind in all three games, the Rams scrambled to tie the second (20-20) and third (16-16), then draw within a point (22-21) late in the fourth.

"The (match) doesn't count for much, but it counts emotionally and in how we prepare," said Southeast coach Carmine Garofalo.