When you win three consecutive state titles, there’s going to be a target on your back. A huge one.
That target, however, hasn’t slowed down the North Hagerstown’s girls volleyball team, which has crushed all 19 of its opponents this fall. To reach perfection — and a four-peat — the Hubs need to win just one more match: Saturday’s Maryland Public Schools Secondary Athletic Association Class 3A final against Howard.
We’ve selected this state final as our Match of the Week.
Winning the seventh state title in program history will be anything but a cakewalk for North Hagerstown. The Lions are undefeated and boast a tall and imposing lineup. Howard has lost just one match over the past two seasons and the team is hungry, starving even, to win its first state championship since 1980.
Buckle up, this match could be one for the ages.
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 or matches we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
North Hagerstown vs. Howard
Tip-off: Saturday, 2 p.m., at Harford Community College
Records: North Hagerstown enters this game at 19-0, while Howard checks in at 24-0.
Last game: The No. 1-seeded Hubs downed No. 5 Reservoir 3-0 in the MPSSAA semifinals, while No. 2 Howard made quick work of No. 6 Arundel by a 3-0 score.
What’s at stake: The winner will be crowned the MPSSAA Class 3A state champion.
Meet the Hubs: Coach Lacie Johnson’s North Hagerstown team is hunting for its fourth MPSSAA Class 3A state championship in four years and seventh in program history … The No. 1-seeded Hubs have gotten to this point by securing 3-0 wins over No. 8 Edgewood and No. 5 Reservoir … Even with the graduation of four CMC All-Stars, North Hagerstown is unbeaten this season … The player central to the Hubs’ success this fall has been Marquette recruit Caydence Doolan. A 5-foot-11 outside hitter, Doolan has lit up the competition this fall with 444 kills, 55 aces, 209 digs, and 15 blocks … Freshman Charlotte Booth has been a nice addition to the North Hagerstown lineup this fall, with the 6-foot-1 middle blocker recording 117 kills, 30 aces, and 17 blocks … Seniors Eden Shupp (81 kills, 19 blocks) and Charlotte Williams (58 kills) have also been scoring threats for the Hubs … Feeding the ball to the offense will be setters Mia Johnson (329 assists) and Lauren Ly (308) … North Hagerstown is anchored defensively by Zalikah Pabalan (269 digs) and Aleah Merrbaugh (117).
Meet the Lions: Coach Grant Scott’s Howard squad will be making its first appearance in the state final since 1980, when the Lions captured the Class B title over Frederick Douglass … Howard marched to this season’s championship game with 3-0 wins over No. 7 Chesapeake and No. 6 Arundel … The Lions have gone 47-1 over the last two seasons, with the lone loss coming to Wootton in the 2024 state semifinals … Howard boasts a tall lineup, with five starters standing at least 5-foot-10 … Leading the Lions is senior outside hitter McKenna Brown, who has racked up 249 kills this fall to go along with 34 aces, 20 blocks, and 192 digs … Opposite hitter Mariska Ordonez has also been a standout for Howard, totaling 181 kills, 31 aces, 38 blocks, and 165 digs … Middle blocker Dylann Loggins, at 6-foot-1, is the tallest player for the Lions and she’s posted 97 kills to go along with a team-high 41 blocks … Running the offense for Howard will be junior setter Imagine Peltier, who has piled up 626 assists, to go along with 63 aces, 159 digs, and 19 blocks … Miranda Ball leads the Lions with 260 digs … Howard will also be expecting contributions from Anna Fiedler (139 kills) and Julia Irvin (33 blocks) … The Lions have surrendered just one game this season, which came in a 3-1 win over Mt. Hebron on Oct. 9.
Sandrik’s pick: Hubs by 1.
