It’s been nearly a year since the Northern Patriots girls volleyball team last tasted defeat.
That loss was a 3-1 heartbreaker, and it came at the worst possible time: In the MPSSAA state semifinals against North Hagerstown, a team that went on to win state gold.
The Patriots have been hungry since that season-ending loss and it’s shown this fall, with the team not just winning, but making examples of all 18 opponents they’ve faced this year. Undefeated Northern garnered the No. 1 seed for this year’s state tourney and now it finds itself in a familiar spot: Facing the Hubs in the semifinals.
We’ve selected this win-or-go-home contest as our Match of the Week.
North Hagerstown, the No. 4 seed, won’t go down easy. The Hubs are the two-time defending state champions and have ended Northern’s playoff ambitions in two-straight seasons. Buckle in, it’s going to be a wild ride.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Match of the Week. Any big upcoming games we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at big_andy76@yahoo.com.
MPSSAA 3A State Semifinals
No. 4 North Hagerstown vs. No. 1 Northern-Calvert
Match time: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., at Arundel High School
Records: North Hagerstown checks in at 17-1, while Northern-Calvert has a record of 18-0.
Last match: The Hubs dispatched No. 5 Bel Air by a 3-0 score, while the Patriots posted a 3-0 win over No. 8 Bel Air.
Last meeting: North Hagerstown defeated Northern-Calvert 3-1 in last season’s state semifinal round.
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the state championship match against the winner of No. 2 Howard vs. No. 6 Thomas S. Wootton. The season is over for the loser.
Meet the Hubs: It’s been just a week since we last featured North Hagerstown in our Match of the Week, but with a berth in the state championship on the line, how could we not spotlight the Hubs again this week? Coach Lacie Johnson’s team enters this crucial contest on an 18-match winning streak after opening their season with a 3-1 loss to James Wood (Va.). Junior Caydence Doolan, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, is one of the top offensive weapons for North Hagerstown, both at the net and in the serving game. Neveah Ware, Leah Fornwalt, and Chloe Gee join the hard-hitting Doolan at the net, while setter Lauren Hobbs is smooth in her ball movement and is aiming to fuel the Hubs’ attack. North Hagerstown is led defensively by Lauren Ly, while Madison Shatzer, Jacqueline Wilson, and Eden Shupp should also factor into the match. The Hubs are fully capable of beating No. 1-seeded Northern, but will need to apply constant pressure on the revenge-minded Patriots.
Meet the Patriots: Northern is no stranger to the MPSSAA Tournament, with the Patriots winning state titles in 2015 and 2017, and finishing as finalists in 2019 and 2022. Coach Bobby Gibbons and his No. 1-seeded Northern squad are undefeated in 18 matches, with the Patriots losing just two games this fall. The champions of the South Region are led up front by 6-foot-3 freshman Chloe Canetto and 5-foot-10 senior Kylee Simms, both outside hitters. Another senior, Mariah Greenfield, is also strong at the net while Simms, Avery Caronello, and Aleah Johnson are all capable weapons in the serving game. Defensively, the Patriots are anchored by Jocelynn Houston. This is a match that Northern can win, and is favored to win, but to do so the Patriots will need to keep their composure against a North Hagerstown squad that has ended their postseason for the past two seasons.
Sandrik’s pick: Hubs in 5
