UPDATED: Rising Sun volleyball rallies to capture region title

    Rising Sun captured its 10th region title and first since 2008 with a come-from-behind five-set victory over visiting North Caroline Friday night.
    The undefeated Tigers (18-0) prevailed 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-8.
    "From a coaching perspective you're always happy but you're never satisfied," Rising Sun coach Rich Wilson said. "I'm glad the fifth game is over. I would've liked to have gotten back the second and third games because our serving was just terrible in those games. It was our strength over the last part of the season but I don't know where it went. Going into the fourth game I told them, 'You've got to get your serves in the court'."

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    Rising Sun jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the decisive fifth game on a kill by Erika Dixon. After the Bulldogs trimmed their deficit to 4-4, Rising Sun responded with five consecutive points to take command.
    North Caroline stayed within striking distance and trailed 11-7 when the Tigers' Lacey Swartout's kill attempt was blocked but landed out of bounds by inches to extend Rising Sun's lead to 12-7.
    Wilson said the Bulldogs' blocking was better than he had anticipated and the freshman Swartout and the Tigers struggled against it in the first three games.
    "I feel like at the beginning I was really nervous," Swartout said. "This was either we made it to states or not. As it went on I felt a whole lot better because the crowd was there and my team was supportive. It was amazing."
    The Bulldogs got the next points but the Tigers tallied the final three to end the match.
    The state semifinals will be held Monday night at Ritchie Coliseum on the campus of the University of Maryland. The two-time state champion Tigers will play west champion Poolesville at 6 p.m.
    After winning the first game, the Tigers struggled against the scrappy Bulldogs in the second and third games. Down 3-0 in game three, Rising Sun got a huge scare when Bailey Hook went down with a knee injury.
    "Number one is I'm praying it's not serious," Wilson said. "Because anytime you start clutching your knee, the first thing you think is an ACL. I knew she went down on her knee. Was I concerned? I was concerned for her and the whole emotional setting of the team. Fortunately we have a trainer."
    Hook missed several points but returned to lead the Tiger comeback with her relentless defense.
    "I just hit it really hard and my knee pads are never really on my knees," Hook said. "So I was more scared than it actually hurt. It feels better now. I did running and jumping to test it. It's just going to bruise really bad but that's ok."
    Hook wasn't tentative when she returned, diving headfirst toward the bleachers in an attempt to retrieve the ball in the fourth game.
    "I got hurt doing that, too," said Hook. "But you got to do what you got to do. If you want it then you got to go for it."
    Hook had a team-high 20 kills, but Wilson says her importance to the team goes way beyond that. "She's more important defensively, I think, with her speed and her willingness to do anything" said Wilson. "That's just how she plays. There's nothing that brings a team up more than a great defensive play. You can say all you want about hitters, but great defensive plays are what swings momentum."
    The Tigers jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth game and never looked back. In the fifth game, Rising Sun played with poise.
    "We actually weren't as calm as we looked," said Hook. "We were actually really nervous but everyone was really nervous. Our stomachs were turning but we pulled through. We all got our heads in the game and we knew we could do it. We just played to our potential."
    Rising Sun demonstrated its depth down the stretch. Freshman setter Sarah WIlliams started the fifth game when Anna Caldwell became dehydrated but Caldwell was able to return.
    Dixon, who would see much more playing time on most other teams but has seen limited action on the loaded Rising Sun squad, provided a boost in the fifth game.
    "She's got the best serve on the team and she's been coming along," said Wilson. "I thought in the fifth game I needed my best servers. I've got a lot of faith in her. She just happens to play on a really talented team."