In a hard-fought—if sometimes shaky—start to both schools’ volleyball seasons, the Rockville Rams proved too much for Watkins Mill to handle, powering to a 3-1 Wednesday win behind high-flying junior Kayla Johnson.

Johnson made her presence felt early in the match, delivering kill after kill as Rockville bulldozed a tentative-looking Wolverine side to take the first set 25-16. That tone spilled over into the second set, and the Rams found themselves with a 20-12 lead that threatened to turn into a blowout.

On their heels on their home court, the Lady ‘Rines finally stirred to life. The front line found a foothold against Johnson’s shots, opening the door for Andrea Falcon—the Wolverines’ top talent—to pace a rousing rally as Watkins Mill gutted out a 25-23 win in the second set.

The Rams promptly regained control, took the third set 25-16, then jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth. Watkins Mill clawed back in spurts, closing the gap to 7-5 and 10-8. Every time Watkins Mill mounted a stretch of points, the Rams answered in kind, and were soon sitting on a 17-8 lead.

The Wolverines mounted one final, furious comeback bid that made it 21-20, then 23-22. But after another Watkins Mill miscue, Rockville finished off their victory on the most frantic—and thrilling—point of the match.

Rockville’s win was no one-woman show. First-year coach Rich Carter leaned on the Rams’ seniors, drawing a spirited, seven-kill performance from Diamond Nwaeze—"the best she’s ever played," Carter said—and Sara Trach’s steady showing from the service line and at the net.

"The surrounding seniors are really coming together and learning how to support [Johnson]," Carter said. "The senior leadership really stepped up tonight. I could have put other people in, mixed it up a bit and gotten better passes or whatever, but having the seniors on the floor really paid off."

As with their success Wednesday night, the Rams’ fate this season will hinge on Johnson’s considerable abilities, which drew praise on both sides of the net: Watkins Mill Coach Jody Tyler puts Johnson among the county’s very best, while Carter is determined to make sure ends up playing Division I ball.

The team’s prospects are a bit harder to predict, after their move out of the 2A region. Wednesday’s win started the Rams on the right foot toward being one of 3A’s top teams.

Across the net, the Wolverines’ frustrating start to their season didn’t dim Tyler’s belief that this couldbe one of her best in 10years as varsity coach. Though an abundance of inexperienced players is likely to keep them Watkins Mill out of the county’s top tier, Tyler expects this year’s squad should push well past last year’s 4-11 record—so long as the new players gain confidence and the team builds off its core of talent, especially freshman Caroline Hanson.

"Last year, it was more that my best players had to set, so they didn’t have anyone to set to, so everything was kind of all out of rotation," Tyler said. "She’s going to give us the ability to play the game in keeping with how we want to play, She’s going to give my players the opportunity to do their jobs consistently."

Watkins Mill gets to put that to the test Tuesday night at Quince Orchard, while Rockville heads home to face Wheaton.