Saturday’s girls volleyball state finals at Harford Community College represented the progress Harford County has made in the sport.
Patterson Mill, an annual Class 1A contender but until now unable to break through, took on Clear Spring, a perennial state championship favorite, in a rematch of last year’s semifinal. Clear Spring won that match in straight sets to reach its third straight state title game.
Saturday’s meeting unfolded differently. The result was the same — a Clear Spring victory. But Patterson Mill’s progress was evident. The Huskies took a 2-1 set lead, and while a late unraveling led to heartbreaking defeat, the growth of the program was clear.
“I think that was the best game of our season,” coach Josh Wagener said. “Like, not even close. Just to be able to rise to this occasion on this stage, I could not be more proud.”
It even impressed the opposing coach.
“They came to play,” said Clear Spring’s Jessica Custer, who has seen Patterson Mill in each of the past three postseasons.
Patterson Mill, playing in its first state final since 2019, reached this stage primarily because of its dynamic outside threats. Wagener boldly said before the season that he felt no team in the state could keep up with the Huskies’ hitters. That strength was on display Saturday with Sophie Lopano, Mia Jelen and Samiyah Hubbard doing their best to try to lead their team to a program-defining win. This year’s team featured seven seniors to last season’s two.
The trio powered the Huskies to a 25-23 victory in the opening set, coming back from down as much as six early. In the second, Clear Spring found its first victory with a 25-22 win, but Patterson Mill responded by taking the third, 25-23.
“Being in-system and running our middles were very effective,” senior libero Angela Kim said. “Also having a lot of energy and that momentum really built us to take the first and third sets.”
The Blazers continued the back-and-forth battle by taking the fourth set in commanding fashion, 25-15, to force a decisive fifth set. Their momentum carried over and led to a 15-8 set win that clinched the match.
“They took control, and then we got in our heads,” Lopano said. Asked about the program’s progress, she added: “the fact that we all wanted it so bad, I think, made the most difference from last year.”
Five-time state champion Clear Spring was the third Washington County program competing for a state title Saturday. Williamsport, which beat Bel Air in the Class 2A semifinals on Tuesday, fell to Glenelg in five sets. And North Hagerstown lost to Howard in the Class 3A contest before Patterson Mill took the court at APG Federal Credit Union Arena.
The Western Maryland counties have recently dominated the girls volleyball scene. Asked why that is, Bel Air coach Dave Simon hypothesized that they simply prioritize the sport from a young age more than sports like field hockey or soccer. Wagener credited it to “high school sports is like a religion out there” and added “I wish we had that here.”
Despite a loss, Harford County is proving it’s getting closer.
Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons.
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