In any other county, a girls volleyball team like Glenelg that went 17-3 and won its fourth state title by knocking off two-time defending Class 2A champion Liberty in the final would be given top billing by itself. That?s not the case in volleyball-rich Howard County, where Glenelg shares the headlines with Centennial, which has gone 39-1 the last two seasons and has won back-to-back 3A state titles, including a state record-tying 12th crown in 2005.
Centennial, with eight seniors back this year, appears the stronger of the two teams. Glenelg lost four starters from its championship team. River Hill, Reservoir and Atholton will all provide great competition in the county.
“The Pac-10 is considered the premier college volleyball conference in the country, and I consider Howard County to be the Pac-10 for Baltimore-area high school volleyball,” said Centennial coach Jerry Hulla, who takes over the program this year from Mike Bossom.
In Anne Arundel County, Broadneck is still the team to beat. The Bruins have won six straight regional titles and three 4A state crowns since 2001. Top rival Severna Park, along with South River, should be among the top contenders.
Dulaney has experienced a resurgence in Baltimore County the last two years under coach Cary Lyon. The Lions won their first 18 games in 2005 before losing to Gaithersburg in the Class 4A final. An experienced Towson squad, which went 16-3, give the Generals hope of contending for the county crown and making a run in the 3A playoffs.
“We?ve got five 10th graders to go along with our seniors, so I?m excited about this year and the future of our program,” Lyon said.
In Baltimore City, Southside advanced to the 1A state semifinals last year after winning the 1A North Region by knocking off Digital Harbor. Defending city champion Poly also looks to build on last season, when it advanced to the 2A North semifinals.
Liberty should once again be the class in Carroll County as it looks for its eighth straight county title and third state championship in the last four years. Among the contenders there are Winters Mill and North Carroll, which advanced to the 3A state semifinals.
In Harford County, Bel Air appears to be the team to beat, while Fallston and Havre de Grace will provide solid competition.
Among the private schools, defending Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference champions St. Paul?s will be tough to beat. Spalding and Chapelgate will challenge.
In the B Conference, Notre Dame Prep has won the last two titles, but Bryn Mawr should be right there. Defending champion Oldfields, Mount Carmel and Towson Catholic should be among those competing for the top spot in the C Conference.
