For the reason that season started, Northern volleyball coach Bobby Gibbons has emphasised the significance of serving to his workforce. All 12 months, his Patriots have centered on being the highest workforce within the fitness center in that space, and Monday night time at Arundel Excessive, Northern served its approach to a four-set victory over Crofton within the semifinals of the Maryland 3A state event.
Maryland
Northern serves its way into the Maryland 3A volleyball title match
The fifth-seeded Patriots (17-1) got here out robust to win the primary set, 25-14. However No. 8 seed Crofton (14-4) responded with a 27-25 victory within the second that raised some questions in Gibbons’s thoughts.
“I used to be apprehensive how we might react, however we simply talked about maintaining every part on a good keel all night time — by no means getting too excessive, by no means getting too low,” Gibbons stated. “I used to be actually, actually pleased with how they got here out and responded in that third set.”
In a 3rd set Northern took, 25-20, junior setter Reese Courtney labored the ball evenly to all three hitters to get everybody concerned. That carried over into the decisive set.
“The conversations on the court docket have been positively about encouraging one another and ensuring we have been taking part in as a workforce and never taking part in as people — and that’s what we noticed within the third and fourth units,” Courtney stated.
With the Patriots up 2-1 and the rating tied at 10 within the fourth set, Courtney went on a 6-0 serving run to present Northern a wholesome lead that ultimately become a game-clinching, 25-15 win. A Crofton service error on match level gave the Patriots a spot in Wednesday’s closing towards No. 3 North Hagerstown (22-2) at Harford Group Faculty. North Hagerstown beat No. 2 seed Magruder (22-2) in 4 units Monday at Thomas Johnson Excessive.
“The workforce that has essentially the most enjoyable goes to win — and we did that,” Gibbons stated of Monday’s match. “We seemed very free within the fourth set, and that was most likely our greatest set of the playoffs to date.”
This will likely be Gibbons’s fourth journey to the state closing, however his workforce is essentially stuffed with first-timers.
“I’ve all the time stated it’s simpler to win the championship than it’s to get to the championship,” Gibbons stated. “They’ve now discovered what it takes to get there, so now we’re simply going to have enjoyable and benefit from the night time.”
Arundel, Urbana will conflict in 4A
Within the Maryland 4A semifinals, host Arundel (19-0) defeated Bowie (15-5) in straight units to remain good and hold alive its hopes of claiming a 3rd straight state championship.
“This sport was actually enjoyable,” junior outdoors hitter Taylor Johnson stated. “… Simply trusting and realizing that we all know what to do on the court docket makes it simpler for us to play the identical on Thursday [in the final].”
The highest-seeded Wildcats held No. 4 seed Bowie to 18 factors of their sweep. Arundel used that result in work on its sport and take a look at performs it has been weaker on. Johnson tried out shorter serves, and Emily Liu determined to set a sooner ball on the appropriate aspect for hitter Payton Swinton.
“I hardly ever chill out, however this can be a group that makes it straightforward to chill out,” Coach Ashley Yuscavage stated. “They’re prepared for no matter occurs, whether or not it’s constant serving or balls that find yourself within the web, and that’s enjoyable.”
Arundel will face No. 3 seed Urbana (19-3) — which defeated No. 2 seed Churchill (15-2) in 4 units — on Thursday at Harford Group Faculty.
Within the Maryland 2A semifinals, No. 4 seed Douglass (14-2) misplaced in straight units to No. 8 Middletown at Churchill Excessive. The Eagles had earned a bye within the first spherical after which swept Pleasant and Gwynn Park to achieve the semifinals.
Middletown will face No. 2 seed Liberty, which beat No. 3 seed Hereford in 4 units, for the state title Thursday at Harford Group Faculty.