Maryland State Championship Review

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The Maryland State championships are complete. Below are the results. My only prediction at the start of the season for Maryland was that Richard Montgomery would win the Class 4 state championship. Pretty bold prediction since they had never won a championship and had even failed to make it to the state tournament last year. Of course, none of that was known to me when I made the prediction. For me, when I looked at the talent on the roster it seemed like a no doubter.

Rockets Rise to the Championship

Caroline Kaye

VA #43

MB #12

HEIGHT 6'1"

POS MB

CLASS 2025

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Caroline Kaye

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State: Virginia

School: Richard Montgomery

Club: MVSA Sparks

Highlights

During the national anthem the student section screams out “rockets red glare” when that line is reached. Pretty cool to see that enthusiasm to start a match. Both teams had some height on their side. Neither team last year appeared in the States last year.

The first set was the most competitive, although it did not start out that way. The Rockets jumped out to an early 12-3 lead with serving accounting for five aces. An Elizabeth Mitchell Elizabeth Mitchell 5'9" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2026 State VA kill extended the lead to 20-11. That is when the 6’0″ outside Julia Mattingly Julia Mattingly 6'0" | OH Leonardtown | 2024 VA powered the Raiders to life with two aces and two blocks to pull them to within one 24-23. Middle Corinne Howard Corinne Howard 5'11" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA rescued the Rockets from collapse with a tip kill that gave them the win 25-23.

During the start of the second set Caroline Kaye Caroline Kaye 6'1" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA and Elizabeth Mitchell Elizabeth Mitchell 5'9" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2026 State VA powered some early shots to the floor, keeping pace with the Raiders 6’2″ middle Gretchen Brady Gretchen Brady 6'2" | MB Leonardtown | 2025 VA who countered with two kills and one block. The score remained close until Ana Djordjevic Ana Djordjevic 5'5" | DS/L Richard Montgomery | 2027 State VA dug a vicious spike to the three meter line where Elizabeth Mitchell Elizabeth Mitchell 5'9" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2026 State VA took the set and pounded it to the floor for a 19-16 lead. Frosh Saesha Dhote Saesha Dhote 5'7" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2027 VA ended the set with a kill to finalize a 25-18 victory.

The momentum really shifted in the third set. Julia Mattingly Julia Mattingly 6'0" | OH Leonardtown | 2024 VA and Gracie Zartman Gracie Zartman 5'8" | OH Leonardtown | 2025 VA fired missiles from the outside while Gretchen Brady Gretchen Brady 6'2" | MB Leonardtown | 2025 VA and Lindsay Hunter Lindsay Hunter 5'11" | MB Leonardtown | 2025 VA created a wall in the middle, resulting in an easy 25-14 win. Mattingly finished the set with two statement kills to end it 25-14.

Despite the change in momentum the Rockets managed to keep the score close early in set four. An Elizabeth Mitchel kill gave the Rockets the serve and a 6-5 lead. Amy Ye Amy Ye 6'1" | S Richard Montgomery | 2025 VA went back to serve and polished off 10 points through two timeouts to open up the lead to 16-5. Corinne Howard Corinne Howard 5'11" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA also got into a zone where everything she touched turned into a point, banging balls to the floor or putting a roof over the opponents attempted kills. This started a 17-1 run that increased the score to 22-6. Carolyn Kaye finished the game off with a kill and a block to clinch the championship 25-10.

Elizabeth Mitchell Elizabeth Mitchell 5'9" | OH Richard Montgomery | 2026 State VA and Corinne Howard Corinne Howard 5'11" | MB Richard Montgomery | 2025 State VA tied for the team lead in kills with 10 each. Howard also added six blocks to her effort. It was the first state championship for Richard Montgomery. They reached the semi-finals in 1992. For Leonardtown, they had gotten into the finals in 2021 but lost to Arundel.

Too Much Doolin for the Wildcats

Caydence Doolan

VA #3

OH #3

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS OH

CLASS 2026

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Caydence Doolan

State: Virginia

School: North Hagerstown

Club: Metro

The Arundel Wildcats came into the tournament as the number one seed, undefeated for the year. Last year they had gotten to the finals of the Class 4 state championships before losing to Urbana. The player who impressed me the most was the 5’6″ Taylor Johnson Taylor Johnson 5'6" | OH Arundel | 2024 VA , who plays libero for her club team, but brought some hop to the left side, burying a number of balls to the floor. With Deviana Walker Deviana Walker 5'11" | OH Arundel | 2024 State VA and Payton Swinton Payton Swinton 5'10" | RS Arundel | 2024 State VA also helping on the pins and Kiara Harmon Kiara Harmon 6'1" | MB Arundel | 2024 VA up the middle they carried some offense. Payton and Daisy Pentorn Daisy Pentorn 5'9" | S Arundel | 2025 State VA shared setting duties.

The Hubs were last year’s class 3 state champions but had lost their big offensive threat Gabrielle Grantham, along with their 5/1 setter Aubrey Chamberlin, their two middles Kayla Turner and Armani Kenney and finally their libero Marley Knight. Despite those losses they still performed well, losing only to Urbana and Virginia Class 4 champion James Wood. Credit that to the incredible offensive performances of Caydence Doolan Caydence Doolan 5'10" | OH North Hagerstown | 2026 State VA and Baylee Doolan Baylee Doolan 5'8" | OH North Hagerstown | 2025 State VA , as well as their new setter Emily Gassaway Emily Gassaway 5'6" | S North Hagerstown | 2024 VA , who all made the Central Maryland Conference first team. Despite being the defending champions, they came into the tournament as the fourth seed.

Both teams exchanged leads in the first set, with the Hubs up 12-8 early and the Wildcats taking an 18-15 lead as the set progressed. Baylee Doolan Baylee Doolan 5'8" | OH North Hagerstown | 2025 State VA had two big hits, one missile that was fired between two blockers to tie the game at 21-21. After a quick middle kill by Kiara Harmon Kiara Harmon 6'1" | MB Arundel | 2024 VA made it 23-24, Caydence Doolan Caydence Doolan 5'10" | OH North Hagerstown | 2026 State VA ended the game with a kill off the block to give the Hubs the two point victory.

Set two saw North Hagerstown in charge for much of the game. A Daisy Pentorn Daisy Pentorn 5'9" | S Arundel | 2025 State VA ace tied the game at 20-20. Caydence Doolan Caydence Doolan 5'10" | OH North Hagerstown | 2026 State VA ended the momentum with four kills at the end of the set, including the game winner to end it 25-21.

While set three completed the sweep Arundel did not go down without a fight. They jumped out to an early 4-0 lead courtesy of two aces by Daisy Pentorn Daisy Pentorn 5'9" | S Arundel | 2025 State VA . The Hubs battled back after a tip kill by Ware Nevaeh Ware Nevaeh 5'9" | MB North Hagerstown | 2025 VA tied it at 13-13. A Baylee Doolan Baylee Doolan 5'8" | OH North Hagerstown | 2025 State VA kill and a Caydence Doolan Caydence Doolan 5'10" | OH North Hagerstown | 2026 State VA ace extended the lead to 15-13. They seemed to have the game iced after taking a 24-19 but a net and hitting error by each Doolan sister advanced the score to 23-24. With the game on the line Emily Gassaway Emily Gassaway 5'6" | S North Hagerstown | 2024 VA did something a little unexpected. With the Wildcats anticipating a fourth set to a Doolan she changed it up by running a quick to Ware Nevaeh Ware Nevaeh 5'9" | MB North Hagerstown | 2025 VA , who did not disappoint, putting the ball down to complete the 25-23 win. It was the fifth state championship for North Hagerstown.

Godschall leads Centennial to Class 2 Championship

Mailinh Godschall

VA #4

DS/L #1

HEIGHT 5'7"

POS DS/L

CLASS 2024

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Mailinh Godschall

State: Virginia

School: Centennial (MD)

Club: Metro American Juniorsvolleyball Club Of Dc

For club ball Mailinh Godschall Mailinh Godschall 5'7" | DS/L Centennial (MD) | 2024 State #183 Nation VA normally wears a libero jersey. For the Eagles she is their top offensive performer. Despite her 5’7″ height she brings the athleticism to jump high over the net. She hits the ball well from the 3 meter line as well as the front row, especially rifling balls down the line. Another solid performer for the Eagles was their 6’2″ middle Kaley Maclellan Kaley Maclellan 6'2" | MB Centennial | 2024 VA . She hit the middles down hard and also blocked well. Last year Centennial played in Class 3 but lost in the first round. They own 14 state championships but the last was in 2008.

Calvert made an appearance in the last two state championships but lost in the first round both years. Their last state championship was in 2003. Their libero Rebecca McCrossan Rebecca McCrossan 5'3" | DS/L Calvert | 2024 VA impressed with her passing and defense.

Despite having sprained her ankle in their last match Mailinh Godschall Mailinh Godschall 5'7" | DS/L Centennial (MD) | 2024 State #183 Nation VA was on her game. An early backrow kill knotted the first set at 3-3 and Kaley Maclellan Kaley Maclellan 6'2" | MB Centennial | 2024 VA tied it again at 4-4 with a quick middle hit to the floor. Setter Manroop Sidhu served two aces while going on a six point service run to give the Eagles a 10-4 advantage. They never trailed after that and a Godschall kill finished it at 25-20.

Centennial never trailed Calvert in set two. It ended with both teams missing six consecutive serves, the Eagles coming out on top 25-21. Maclellan finished the set with two blocks and four kills.

Mailinh Godschall Mailinh Godschall 5'7" | DS/L Centennial (MD) | 2024 State #183 Nation VA started set three with four early kills to give the Eagles a 5-1 lead. Natalie Gomez and Kaley Maclellan Kaley Maclellan 6'2" | MB Centennial | 2024 VA contributed two kills each and the lead extended to 14-4. Calvert battled back to get the score within three 22-19 but a Maclellan kill progressed it to 24-19. Natalie Gomez ended it with a spike to the floor for a 25-19 finish to complete the sweep.

Clear Spring Goes Back to Back

I only witnessed the last two sets of the Clear Spring/Smithburg match. Clear Spring won in five, taking the last set 15-12. The two star performers of the match were the two left handed swinging right sides. For Clear Spring that was the 5’11” Addison Zeigler. For Smithburg Emily Ryder Emily Ryder 5'10" | RS Smithsburg | 2025 State VA was the big gun. Chloe Fisher did a strong job setting a 5/1 for Smithburg, while Kassidy Meadows Kassidy Meadows 5'7" | OH Smithburg | 2024 VA terminated balls from the left side.