Sara Buoni walked onto the court Friday, Sept. 18, one kill away from 1,000.

By the end of the night, the Johns Creek High School senior had her milestone. So did teammate Hana Catic. Both Gladiators crossed 1,000 career kills in the same match against Alpharetta, as first reported by Appen Media. A kill in volleyball is an attack that directly produces a point.

Buoni, a 6-foot-2 right side committed to the University of Memphis, said she set the goal three years ago after watching a senior teammate reach the mark. She wrote it in her journal. Catic, a 5-foot-10 senior outside hitter, entered the match chasing the same number.

The Gladiators' final home game of the regular season drew a packed student section. Johns Creek had only four home dates all season, and Buoni said the crowd's energy meant a great deal to the team.

Johns Creek won the second set 25-20 against a Raiders squad that had not lost a region match, but Alpharetta took the match 3-1, according to GHSA records.

Buoni, who entered the night at 999 kills, said sharing the milestone with Catic "softened the blow" of the loss. She told Appen Media the two plan to channel the achievement into the region tournament.

"Hey, we got 1,000 kills, let's go beat them in region championships and show them that's the real purpose we're here," Buoni said.

Catic said both players attacked aggressively knowing they were close, and that sharing the milestone with Buoni made it more meaningful because of their friendship.

She pointed to last year's region tournament, when the Gladiators took lessons from the regular season and beat Milton to claim the region title. Catic said fans can expect a repeat.

Johns Creek finished the regular season 22-6 overall and 5-1 in region play, second in the standings, according to MaxPreps. The Gladiators are ranked No. 15 in Georgia.

Region standings are set to be finalized Tuesday, Sept. 29. Barring an upset of Alpharetta by Riverwood International Charter School, head coach Katie Scott's squad will enter the region tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Johns Creek opens postseason play with a home match against Midtown on Thursday, Oct. 1, followed by matches at Forsyth Central on Saturday, Oct. 3, against Brookwood, Norcross, Savannah Arts Academy and the host school.