GROTON – Add another chapter to the storied Aberdeen Roncalli and Groton rivlary.

Groton rallied from two sets down to hand the Cavaliers their first setback of the season in a 23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-9 Northeast Conference volleyball match on Thursday night.

“It could have went both ways real, real easy,” said Groton coach Chelsea Hanson.

She noted that both teams made stellar plays throughout the match.

“Every point felt like a state championship point,” Hanson said. “There was no point that didn’t mean anything.”

In the end, the Tigers made a few more plays down the stretch to pull out the victory.

“Tonight was a hard one,” said Roncalli coach Leese Ware. “We knew going into tonight it was going to be a cat fight as Groton has always had a strong program.”

The Cavaliers had a 24-20 in the first set and held on two claim the two-point win. Roncalli then scored 11 points in a row to erase a 13-9 deficit and win the second set.

The third set hung in the balance tied at 23-23, before the Tigers avoided the sweep and forced a fourth set.

Roncalli then had chances to finish off the match in the fourth set, leading 21-18, before the Tigers scored the final seven points to force a deciding fifth set.

Groton scored then reeled off the first four points of the final set, before the Cavaliers tied the score at 5-5. The teams were deadlocked at 8-8 before Tevan Hanson served four straight aces to help propel the Tigers across the finish line.

“I give honestly a lot of credit to Roncalli’s players. They did everything they could to take us out of our game plan,” Coach Hanson said. “Luckily for us tonight, the people that lead us in kills didn’t, but someone else did.”

Taryn Traphagen led Groton with 19 kills and Chesney Weber contributed 16.

“Our defense very much stepped up tonight and made good plays,” Ware said. “The girls played extremely well and hard tonight, but ultimately we ran out of steam.”

Karsyn Davis had a big night for the Cavaliers, finishing with 14 kills, and three solo blocks to go along with an assist.

“Karsyn Davis really shined tonight, and had some key blocks,” Ware said.

Grace Cogley added a dozen kills, and Jillian Ellwein finished with 11 for the Cavaliers.

Coach Hanson noted that playing at a tournament in Huron earlier this season played a key role in Thursday’s outcome.

“Huron was really good for us. We competed really well,” Hanson said. “We played a lot of point-for-point volleyball. … I definitely think our strength of schedule helped us get this win tonight.”

In the end, it turned out to be a typical Roncalli-Groton battle.

“It’s the game I look forward to the most and can’t wait to get over,” Hanson said. “There’s always just something extra in the air.”

And the latest installment in the rivalry was no different.

“The atmosphere was great,” Hanson said. “It was so loud. … It had postseason feels in the early, early part of the season.”

Roncalli (5-1) plays at unbeaten Hamlin on Tuesday, while Groton (5-4) hosts undefeated Clark-Willow Lake on Thursday.

“We are taking each match, each win and each loss and moving forward to work on our weaknesses,” Ware said.

Serving: Aberdeen Roncalli (Cambry Feickert 25-26 2 aces, Kenzington Basham 2 aces, Gabby Thomas 15-19 1 ace); Groton 7 aces (Tevan Hanson 6, McKenna Tietz 1).

Hitting: Aberdeen Roncalli (Karsyn Davis 34-37 14 kills, Grace Cogley 65-67 12 kills, Jillian Ellwein 45-49 11 kills, Thomas 22-23 9 kills); Groton 57 kills (Taryn Traphagen 19, Chesney Weber 16, Hanson 12).

Setting: Aberdeen Roncalli (Elyana Roach 31 assists); Groton 44 assists (Weber 25, Liby Althoff 13).

Digs: Aberdeen Roncalli (Feickert 29, Ellwein 26, Cogley 12); Groton 168 (Sydney Locke 43, Weber 32, Hanson 28).

Blocks: Aberdeen Roncalli (Davis 3 solo 1 assist, Thomas 1 solo 2 assists, Roach 1 solo 1 assist); Groton 8 (Traphagen 1 solo 5 assists, Hanson 1 solo 4 assists, Kella Tracy 4 assists).

Records: Aberdeen Roncalli 5-1; Groton 5-4.