A highly anticipated showdown is on the agenda Friday evening as several local volleyball teams seek a berth in the state Final Four.
For the third time this fall No. 1 Centennial and No. 3 River Hill will meet, this time for the Class 3A East Region crown. Both teams (River Hill vs. Wilde Lake and Reservoir; Centennial vs. Mount Hebron and Howard) have swept their way to the finals.
The teams’ last met Oct. 2 in the finals of the Gator Invitational at Reservoir where River Hill won 2-0. Three days earlier, Centennial ousted the then-No. 1 Hawks in four sets.
In 3A North, No. 4 Towson hosts Hereford. The Baltimore County champ Generals have swept through their quarterfinal (vs. North Harford) and semifinal (Catonsville) round games. Hereford needed all five sets before eliminating Poly in Wednesday’s semifinals.
After ending No. 13 Broadneck’s reign as Class 4A state champ followed with eliminating Anne Arundel County champ and No. 5 Severna Park, No. 9 Arundel stands a win away from its first semifinal berth. The Wildcats host No. 10 South River for the East Region crown.
Arundel defeated the Seahawks in four sets during the regular season. South River is seeking its final state Final Four berth since 1998.
Dulaney seeks its first state semifinal trip since 2007 when it hosts Frederick County’s Thomas Johnson for the 4A North title. The No. 15 Lions defeated Perry Hall, 3-1, in the semifinal round Wednesday.
Marriotts Ridge attempts for a second consecutive state semifinal berth, visiting Calvert Friday in the 2A South finals. The Mustangs ousted Glenelg in five sets Wednesday.
The Marriotts Ridge/Calvert survivor will play Eastern Tech or City in a state semifinal Monday at the University of Maryland. The unbeaten Knights host Eastern Tech for the North Region title.
Both squads swept their way in the region finals with City besting Chesapeake-Baltimore County and Digital Harbor, and Eastern Tech over Dundalk and Lansdowne.
All eight matches in the North Region have been sweeps. The Knights, who won the Baltimore City title, are attempting to become the second city program to advance to the state Final Four.
UCBAC champ and No. 8 Fallston takes on Easton for the 2A East title. The Cougars swept Rising Sun in the semifinal round and Bel Air in the quarterfinals.
Three locals hope to have their ticket punched for Maryland in Class 1A. Havre de Grace is at Colonel Richardson for the East title, Carver Vo-Tech visits Surrattsville in Prince George’s County for the South crown, and No. 20 Loch Raven welcomes Catoctin in the North finals.
The 3A state semifinals take place Monday evening at Ritchie Coliseum, followed Tuesday with the 4A semifinals. The 1A and 2A semifinals are Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
