This year's River Hill volleyball team is lacking one thing: a clear-cut, star player.
But what the Hawks lack in starpower, they make up for with balance.
"We have a well rounded team, and I think that makes the big difference," coach Lynn Paynter said. "They're playing well together and they enjoy each other's company. I think we can go all the way."
River Hill (17-1) took one step closer to its first state title Friday night, sweeping visiting Reservoir, 3-0, in the 3A East regional championship match. The Hawks will now face 3A South champion LaPlata (18-0) in the state semifinals, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum.
River Hill won three regional titles in a row starting in 2007, falling in the state finals in 2009.
That year, senior setter Becky Paynter led River Hill to a 17-2 record and was named Player of the Year for Howard County.
"I'm pleased for the freshmen that were here when Becky was a senior, that they're getting their turn to be leaders, their turn to get to go to the state tournament," Lynn Paynter said, referring to 2011 seniors Kristin Lee, Kelly Davis and Marta Roman. "It's so exciting to let them get to return and to let them have the challenge of being leaders in the state tournament, not just as kids that are cheering from the bench."
Another senior, Amber Wiswell, is getting her first taste of team success after moving from Southern California to Maryland this summer.
"I'm ecstatic, this wouldn't have happened in California," Wiswell said. "The reason we're successful is because we push so hard in practice and we always have a goal in mind. None of our (volleyball) teams have gotten a state banner up there yet, so we want to be the first ones."
Lee led River Hill with 17 kills in only 22 attempts Friday night, while Wiswell (8) and junior Cassidy Davis (6) combined for 14 more. Roman led the defense with 12 digs, while Caitlin Davis had eight digs to go along with her 28 assists.
Even though they lost on Friday, Reservoir (13-5) completed its best season since 2007, when the Gators finished 20-0 and won the school's first state title in any team sport.
Reservoir took a 6-2 lead in the third set, but couldn't hang on to win.
In that set, middle hitter Kelsea Belt had five kills.
The Gators were led this season by Belt, middle hitter Aly Haslam, libero Amanda Gross, serving specialist Natalie Leffler and outside hitter Rachel Smith, all seniors, as well as junior setter Iulia Tath.
"We're all great friends, we've been playing together since my freshman year and it's just nice to see the full four years playing out like this," Smith said. "It was a great run and we had a shot at it. But we didn't get it this time. It was River Hill's night and good luck to them in the championship."
2A South
Marriotts Ridge fell in its attempt to win a third straight regional title, 3-0, at second-seeded Calvert Friday night.
The Mustangs (11-7) were led by senior captain Robin Laux, who had eight kills, along with Dana Koehler and Lindsay Bay, with five each.
Three of Marriotts Ridge's seven losses this season were in fifth set tiebreakers.
"We were very competitive and played with a lot of heart," coach Amanda Olsen said. "Things just didn't click for us tonight, but we made it to the Regional Final game 3 years in a row, so our program has a lot to be proud of."