After taking pictures with the District V championship trophy Thursday evening, most of Centennial High’s volleyball team grabbed their bags and quickly exited out of Annapolis’ gymnasium. The Eagle seniors headed back to their Ellicott City school for a senior Crab Feast.
The top-ranked Eagles have bigger fish to fry with the state postseason starting next week. Centennial claimed its second consecutive District V title with a 25-15, 25-22 and 25-21 victory over No. 5 Severna Park.
Senior hitter Liz Brown had 16 kills for Centennial with senior hitter Samatha Brostrom adding 10 kills and 11 digs. Carli Converse finished with 10 kills and 11 digs for Severna Park (11-4), and Kim Bell added 20 assists.
The Eagles (18-2 overall) were efficient in their last regular season performance before starting the Class 3A East Region playoffs next week. Centennial has claimed the first two District V championship games which match the Howard County league champ against Anne Arundel’s best.
“We were a little shaky in the beginning, but I feel like we were strong at the end,” said Eagles sophomore right side hitter Trisha Mockapetris, who had six kills. “We wanted to go out there and win the championship for the second year in a row.”
“You always need to something work towards, and we would’ve had eight days off,” said Centennial coach Larry Schofield referring to Thursday’s game. “We took a couple of days off just to refocus because it’s the second season.”
During the regular season, Severna Park defeated Centennial in pool play at the Gator Invitational. The stakes were a little higher Thursday, and once again, the Eagles imposed their power.
After pulling away in the first set, Centennial raced to an 8-2 lead in the second set, then extended it to 18-8. The Falcons crept to within six on several occasions, but Centennial imposing frontline with Brostrom, Mockapetris and Brown kept the Anne Arundel County champ flustered as Brown’s kill closed the door on the set.
The Eagles itched out to a 15-9 advantage after Severna Park couldn’t cleanly attack Taylor Simpson’s serve followed by a net violation. The Falcons closed to within one at several junctures, but at 22-21, Mockapetris landed a shot on the back line and Brostrom followed with a kill block.
“They [Centennial] passed well and we were able to stay in system,” said Falcons coach David Verostic, whose team won a second straight Anne Arundel County title despite not having the services of standout hitter Samatha Henke, who’s recovering from a tore labrum. “They were the better team.”
Severna Park turns its attention to the Class 4A East Region playoffs. The Falcons, seeded second, hosts either Great Mills or county rival Chesapeake in Monday’s quarterfinals.
Centennial begins its postseason at home Monday against either Atholton or No. 12 Mount Hebron. The top-seeded Eagles want to atone for last year’s region finals lost River Hill.
“This is the point where you have to win to keep going,” said Schofield. “We know all roads to lead to River Hill, they’re going to be there one way or the other. We need to take each match as they come, not look down the road.”
