HAGERSTOWN – It was business as usual for the North Hagerstown volleyball team.
The Hubs went out Wednesday and did everything that has become expected from the ultra-successful program.
The four-time Maryland Class 3A state champions remained undefeated by taking down Tuscarora in three sets – 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 – to win a fifth-straight West Region title, opening the door to another possible state championship. They host a state quarterfinal game on Friday.
Punch the clock. Our work here is done. It was time for pictures, smiles and celebrations.
But as easy as it looked, this game was a little more complicated.
The signature moment came when North suddenly went off the rails. The Hubs battled with the Titans through six ties in the third set before Tuscarora ran off four straight points, forcing coach Lacie Johnson to call a timeout.
“Our coach got on us,” said senior outside hitter Caydence Doolin. “I think she had to because we got lackadaisical. We kind of relaxed because we won the first two (sets). We needed her to get on us so we could finish the game now.”
North suddenly had problems receiving serves and started giving up easy points, which concerned Johnson.
“We came into the timeout and it was “what are we doing?’” Johnson said. “’We just beat this team by a significant number of points. Why are we letting them back into this game right now momentum-wise.’
“I said ‘Pick it up. We have to figure out our passing and put the ball away. We just got into a little slump. I’ve done it before, once in a while. When I raised my voice and get a little excited, they usually turn it around … I don’t know what it is.”
Coming out of the timeout, Tuscarora move to a 13-8 lead before Charlotte Booth unloaded a kill to get North a point and the serve.
Madison Shatzer stepped to the service line and ran off 15 consecutive points, highlight a number of strong finishing shots by Doolin and Booth, to close out the game at 25-13 before the Titans were able to the get back on offense.
We had Eden (Shupp) come in and she stepped up in that defensive position,” Johnson said. “We were having a little trouble with the communication in the back row. It shows some of the depth of some of our other players on the court.
“Eden is not just a front row player. She plays defense every day in practice. She did a nice job stepping in. I’m super proud of her to come in and play well and Maddie (Shatzer) really put it together on the service line for us. It was a great turnaround.”
It was the final evolution of fortunes for the Hubs, who were never in danger of losing, but needed to show that team versatility in the comfortable win.
The game started with Doolin, who will be playing at Marquette University next season, was at her dominating best out of the gates, thanks to some motivation provided by Tuscarora.
She battered Tuscarora with five explosive kills and a dink shot for six of North’s first seven points. The first one in the set was an emphatic putdown from the left side of the net buried into the middle of the Titans’ defense.
“That was a big one for us.” Doolin said. “(The Titans) came in cocky with their boombox and it got me fired up.
“Walking into another team’s gym, blasting your music, acting like you’re the best one here it was a little obnoxious. It rubbed me the wrong way, so I was really ready to compete.”
So, Tuscarora was forced to face the music.
The Titans closed to withing 14-10 before North pulled away the a seven-point win of the set.
In the second set, the dependence of Doolin switched up. Doolin missed on couple of kills and North started working to ball to get Booth, Mia Johnson and others involved in the scoring. Doolin spent time in the middle of the floor with the Hubs executing around her.
“We were trying to spread the offense because their blockers were cheating (over),” Doolin said. “Hiding me low and spreading hits made easy for all our hitters. I think it will really help us in the long run because we were able to run our right sides and our middles and when they came back to me, I was ready.”
“Not really sure what happened there,” Johnson said. “I think sometimes you are getting so many of those sets, you are bound to a couple that aren’t as great. Other people picked up. Charlotte Booth did really well and hit some tough balls. Eden picked it up on the right side. We have people to fill those gaps and really step up when that time was needed
Booth took over the middle of the net and North forced Tuscarora into errors to pull away, moving from a 5-5 tie to the 11-point set win.
“We want to get all our offense involved, especially coming down the road with all these playoff games,” Johnson said. “We’re going to face teams that have big blockers and they will know (Doolin and say) ‘Hey this is one of their big hitters.’ We have to make sure everyone is ready to hit and take care of the ball.”
Now it back to business as usual for the Hubs.
North is now three match wins from a fifth consecutive state title. If the Hubs follow through, Doolin will graduate as a four-time state champion.
This one would be the most meaningful.
“It’s really special,” Doolin said “I mean, I haven’t been the leader of the team or the oldest for the team to look to, so this is my year to be like ‘We’re going to win this on my terms.’ It’s just really special for me.”
