BEL AIR, Md. — Within the first two units of the Maryland 4A volleyball state championship sport Thursday evening, Arundel merely was out of sync. On the lookout for their third straight state title, the Wildcats had been passing poorly, letting balls drop and lacking blocks. Most significantly, they couldn’t generate any offense, which had powered their undefeated run this season.
Maryland
Arundel volleyball storms back, falls just short in Maryland 4A title match
Arundel ultimately discovered a solution. However regardless of rallying from a hefty deficit, the Wildcats fell brief within the decisive fifth set as Urbana prevailed, 25-23, 25-23, 12-25, 9-25, 15-11, at Harford Group Faculty.
Urbana (19-3) was ready for what Arundel (19-1) tried to do. Early on, that made all of the distinction.
“We undoubtedly anticipated their arduous serves, their constant passes and digs, their arduous hits,” Urbana senior libero Julia Gustafson stated. “… We undoubtedly obtained fired up in our little huddle earlier than the sport and simply began off on a very good be aware.”
After its early woes, Arundel (19-1) served itself again into the sport, with setter Emily Liu opening the third set with a four-point run that changed into a 13-point lead due to pin hitter Audrey Owens being backed up by tight protection. The Wildcats adopted with an much more dominant fourth set to drive a fifth.
Arundel had all of the momentum. However the pivotal second within the remaining set was an Arundel internet violation that allowed Urbana (19-3) to serve to victory.
“Regardless that we didn’t come out on high this time,” Owens stated, “I’m actually happy with how we did.”
The Wildcats beat Broadneck in 5 units in 2019 and Leonardtown in three final 12 months however had been denied one other title.
“They’re an unimaginable program, and so they confirmed why they’re tonight,” stated Urbana Coach Jerry Burge, whose staff notched its first state championship. “They didn’t get rattled. They got here proper again and took it proper to us.”