Timing is everything when it comes to going deep into the postseason, and the timing was just perfect for Lansdowne when they entered the Class 2A North Region volleyball tournament.
The Vikings (11-6) had lost players to a stomach virus and poison ivy during the regular season, but they were healthy once the tournament began.
Third-seeded Lansdowne followed a first-round bye with back-to-back sweeps of Randallstown and second-seeded Carver (Balt. City) and earned a berth in the regional finals, Friday night at Loch Raven (5 p.m).
The Vikings dispatched Carver, 25-22, 25-14, 25-13.
"We knew nothing about Carver," Lansdowne coach Jamie Izdebski said. "We just wanted to get back to Loch Raven."
The Vikings were not at full strength when they lost 20-25, 25-20, 25-21, 26-24 during the regular season to the Raiders.
"We were evenly matched," Izdebski said.
To get by the Raiders, the Vikings will have to continue getting contributions from the hot hitters on the floor.
Senior outside hitters Brianna Morris and Emily Wolford and senior middle Angela Johnson and junior middle Lisa Cave are prime candidates for senior Maude McCoury and junior Channan Neville, who share setting duties.
McCoury plays the entire rotation and Neville is spelled by senior Sarah Harrison on the front row.
"Channan is still continuing to grow tremendously," Izdebski said. "Over the whole season she is definitely the most improved."
The Vikings offensive success has been fueled by the defense of junior libero Nicole Wheeler, a Second Team All-Division selection.
"Everyone is meshing together and they are stepping up when they need to step up," Izdebski said.
A win over the Raiders would advance the Vikings to the state semifinals, Wednesday, Nov. 19, at College Park. It would be their first final four appearance since 1993.