Dorchester Banner/Dave Ryan
North Dorchester’s Jenna Usilton went low to dig an attack by Kent County during the teams’ playoff match on Monday. Also on the court for the Eagles were, from the left, Jenna Asplen, Brooke Harding, Georgie Turner and Kathryn Allen.[/caption] SHILOH – The North Dorchester High School Eagles volleyball team knocked off the Kent County Trojans in the first round of the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association’s Region 1A East playoffs on Monday. The Eagles won in three straight sets, only faltering in the first half of the second set, as they advanced in the postseason in just their fourth year as a program. “We’ve been practicing hard on defense,” Head Coach Carol Hubbard said as her players celebrated after the match. “The girls were moving really well in the first game.” Indeed, they were. ND jumped out to an early lead, and it looked like the Trojans might have been in over their heads, with the Eagles dominating on the way to a 25-15 finish. But then came the second set, and things got more challenging. The Trojans took the lead at 6-5, and extended it as far as 12-7, when Coach Hubbard called a timeout. Shouting? Panic, maybe? Nope. Just advice, and smiles from the girls, who didn’t lose their poise, though their focus might have been lacking a bit. But not for long. The Eagles got back to business, and tied it at 15-15. The Trojans fought, however, and the score was tied again at 21-21. In high school volleyball, the first team to 25 points wins, as long as they are at least 2 points ahead. The Eagles buckled down and surged for the final four points, winning the second game. In a best-of-five match, this meant the Trojans would have to win the next three games, a tall order for any team. The visitors might have been daunted at the thought, as they fell behind 10-1 in the third game, won by the Eagles 25-12. “That was our goal, to come out and win in three,” Coach Hubbard said. She was also pleased that she could give some of her backups playoff experience as her six seniors approach the end of their ND careers. “I was confident enough letting the others in,” she said. The Eagles played Colonel Richardson on Wednesday, after the deadline for this issue. Check www.dorchesterbanner.com for an update to this story.SHILOH – The North Dorchester High School Eagles volleyball team knocked off the Kent County Trojans in the first round of the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association’s Region 1A East playoffs on Monday. The Eagles won in three straight sets, only faltering in the first half of the second set, as they advanced in the postseason in just their fourth year as a program. “We’ve been practicing hard on defense,” Head Coach Carol Hubbard said as her players celebrated after the match. “The girls were moving really well in the first game.” Indeed, they were. ND jumped out to an early lead, and it looked like the Trojans might have been in over their heads, with the Eagles dominating on the way to a 25-15 finish. But then came the second set, and things got more challenging. The Trojans took the lead at 6-5, and extended it as far as 12-7, when Coach Hubbard called a timeout. Shouting? Panic, maybe? Nope. Just advice, and smiles from the girls, who didn’t lose their poise, though their focus might have been lacking a bit. But not for long. The Eagles got back to business, and tied it at 15-15. The Trojans fought, however, and the score was tied again at 21-21. In high school volleyball, the first team to 25 points wins, as long as they are at least 2 points ahead. The Eagles buckled down and surged for the final four points, winning the second game. In a best-of-five match, this meant the Trojans would have to win the next three games, a tall order for any team. The visitors might have been daunted at the thought, as they fell behind 10-1 in the third game, won by the Eagles 25-12. “That was our goal, to come out and win in three,” Coach Hubbard said. She was also pleased that she could give some of her backups playoff experience as her six seniors approach the end of their ND careers. “I was confident enough letting the others in,” she said. The Eagles beat Colonel Richardson 3-2 on Wednesday, after the deadline for this week's printed issue. The victory qualified ND for the Regional Championships for the second year in a row. The match Wednesday featured a gym full of vocal and enthusiastic fans of both teams. It went the full distance, only deciding the winner in the fifth game, which ended 15-11. The Eagles will travel on Friday, Nov. 10, to Perryville to play the Panthers at 5:00 p.m. The winner will go to the State Championships.