More News

Calvert County's Northern, the South Region champion, swept the West Region champion Swarmin' Hornets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-23, Tuesday night at Ritchie Coliseum on the University of Maryland campus.

"I definitely didn't want to lose," Damascus outsider hitter Sam Edwards said. "But, I mean, it happens. I'm just thankful we made it this far. ... No one really expected anything out of us this year except maybe a .500 record."

Damascus (14-4) far exceeded that goal.

It stayed close in the opening set of the semifinal and was down just 15-14 at one point. But Northern (18-0) won the final 10 points, including nine straight serves by Chandler Mass.

In the second set, Patriots middle hitter Kaitlyn Schmeiser and libero Abby Orlandi exposed the Hornets' unforced errors and inconsistent serve-receive and passing games. Each sustained a decisive and momentum-seizing service run.

The Hornets' best chance to steal a set came in the third. They led, 23-20, following a textbook pass from setter Rachel Wilson (20 assists) to Edwards for one of her seven kills. But the Patriots would end the match on a 5-0 run, capped by a service ace from the arm of Schmeiser.

"When we've struggled at times this year, it's been in serve-receive," said Damascus head coach Carl Merry, who also guided the team to the 2006 Class 4A state final. "When we do struggle passing the ball, our offense goes down a little bit. ... But it wasn't meant to be. I think we hurt ourselves more than they beat us towards the end."

Merry, who returned to the sidelines following a two-year hiatus, has a potentially large rebuilding process next fall with the graduation of six key seniors: Edwards, Wilson, Chrissy Hobbs, Connor Harrell, Sara Bleistein and Vivian Dagher.

Even though the Class of 2010 did not play a vital role on the varsity state runner-up squad as freshmen, they have been key cogs in a remarkable four-year run. Their program has gone to three state tournaments during that span.

"We met every one," Merry said of his team's goals. "We wanted to win our division. We wanted to win the region and we wanted to get to the states and we did all three. ... We've got nothing to be ashamed of."

Added Edwards: "It's disappointing. But I know I'm playing at the next level next year. I mean, it's pretty emotional playing in my last high school game, but I know my career is not over."

Meanwhile, the Patriots will make their 11th trip, but first since 2001, to the state final. They face River Hill, which defeated Towson in five sets, on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Samantha Swann paced their offense with 9 kills.