New London — It sure looked like Waterford was about to go down a game during Friday night’s Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I volleyball final.

The Lancers were on the precipice of losing Game 1 to Fitch, down two points with the Falcons serving game point.

Then throw in the fact that Fitch was one of the few teams that had Waterford’s number during the regular season, beating it twice in eight days to start the season.

The Lancers weren’t shook, however.

Waterford fought back to win that first game and staggered the Falcons. It went on for to sweep Fitch 26-24, 25-9, 25-19 to win the title in its first season under head coach Amanda Tourjee.

“We have really been working on our mental toughness, especially throughout the end of the season,” Lancers senior Lillian Steinhaus said. “That’s something I’m really proud of.

“We really stuck with it and were able to push through it even when we got down.”

What was noticeable about third-seeded Waterford (18-5) during both the semifinals and final was that even when it made a mistake, it stayed loose. There’d be a smile after a mistake. Tourjee, calm-and-collected, would provide a word of encouragement when other coaches might wince-and-bark.

“What can you do?,” Tourjee said with a grinn. “A ball is going to touch the ground somewhere. If it lands near you (and you err), get over it. There’s nothing else you can do. You have to move on to the next point.

“We can’t control what just happened. ... (you) have to learn from it and then move on and just keep going.”

Lancers junior Emerson Lane earned tournament MVP honors as she repeatedly hurt the Falcons from the middle with 17 kills and two blocks along with two aces.

“We try to keep happy and (have) a good environment that brings up our energy to play,” Lane said.

Steinhaus had 21 assists and five aces for Waterford and the likes of senior libero Mia Petrini played excellent defense as well as deftly receiving many serves and hits.

Senior Isabella Ditmore had 18 assists for the fifth-seeded Falcons (13-10), who reached the finals by knocking off previously unbeaten Griswold in a five-game semifinal on Wednesday.

Senior Annalyn Cahill added eight kills and three aces for the Falcons and classmate Katie Touhy had five kills and a block.

“They didn’t play their best,” Fitch head coach Elena Lockett said. “They know they didn’t play their best tonight. I mean, Waterford is a great team. I’m happy for them. I’m happy for Amanda.

“I don’t think anybody expected us to be here but now we have to focus on states.”

The Falcons were serving for game point in Game 1 when Lane hit a solo kill on an overpass to the net to cut Waterford’s deficit to 24-23 and give it the serve.

Lane followed with two more kills for game-point and a Falcons’ error gave the Lancers the win.

“After that first set, we kind of said, ‘we got this,’” Lane said. “‘Just keeping pushing throughout all of (the games).’”

The Lancers’ comeback also rocked Fitch.

“I feared when we dropped that (first) game,” Lockett said

Waterford then began to frustrate the Lancers with their serve and either earned a point off an ace, a mistake, or prevented the latter from setting up its attack.

Steinhaus served four straight points as Waterford jumped out to a 5-1 lead in Game 2.

Senior Marina Colonis (nine kills) stepped to the service line moments later and helped the Lancers score four straight points again to go ahead, 10-2.

Waterford finished with 13 aces.

The final game was more nip-and-tuck before the Lancers began pulling away.

Steinhaus hit a solo kill to give Waterford the win and the crown.

“It obviously didn’t go as planned back then,” Tourjee said about the earlier season losses to Fitch, “but it came full circle.”

n.griffen@theday.com