The Pinelands Regional High School girls volleyball team was having a fine season on Friday as it prepared to host Donovan Catholic. The Wildcats had racked up an impressive 15-1 record and had clawed their way into the statewide-but-North-Jersey-centric nj.com Top 20 rankings while the Griffins, also a Top 20 squad, came into the match with a 15-2 record.

The problem for Pinelands, and what made a win so important for the home team, was the fact that Pinelands’ only loss had been to Donovan…