WESTWOOD — When first-year Franklin head coach Chris Ridolfi took over the Panthers, the players he inherited made it abundantly clear to him that their goal was to make it to the state volleyball final.
As lofty as that might have seemed, it came to fruition for fifth-seeded Franklin on Wednesday night at Westwood High’s Bader Gymnasium.
The Panthers received standout performances from seniors Makayla Kuykendall and Olivia Alberti to end the Cinderella run of No. 16 Newton South with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-16) sweep and advance to the state final for the first time in program history.
“The first day I met them they told me they wanted to be in the state final,” Ridolfi said. “We were cleaning the closet, way before preseason just checking volleyballs and the net system and Mak and Livvy told me they wanted to be in the state final. We coached them that way the whole year and they’ve taken me on the ride.”
Franklin (22-2), which will face three-time defending state champion Newton North for the crown, put Newton South (14-8) in a hole early and never looked back.
Alberti’s strong net-front presence was a major difference in the first set as she spearheaded the Panthers with multiple blocks and kills. She created separation for Franklin in the middle of the frame when she delivered a block and kill back-to-back before adding in another kill and an ace moments later.
“The whole year she’s been that way,” Ridolfi said. “She’s fast off her feet, she’s strong at the net. She can just change the game that way the whole year. We count on her to do that for us and she’s been doing it consistently.”
Franklin was just getting going as Kuykendall, who turned in 13 kills, along with Gianna Laurello, Emerson Delleo and Phoebe O’Connor overwhelmed the Lions in the second set. The Panthers closed the frame on a 17-4 run, which was punctuated by an ace from Delleo.
Sofia Hellstrom tried to bring Newton South back but Kuykendall continued to assert herself with six kills coming in the final set to help send Franklin into uncharted territory.
“A big thing for us is just to keep fighting and staying tough,” Kuykendall said. “Pushing through, we’re obviously so excited.”
