Playing before a large vocal crowd Oct. 1, host Hagerstown and potential sectional opponent Northeastern went back and forth in a heavyweight match before Hagerstown scored the last three points in the fifth, deciding set to win 3-2.
Northeastern struggled to contain the Tiger power game led by Raleigh Doerstler. Alyia Diamond turned in a strong performance to lead the Knights.
The match was all Hagerstown early, with the Tigers taking a 21-2 lead to open the first set before cruising to an easy win.
The Lady Knights responded by winning the second set to tie the match.
The two teams traded set wins to force a fifth and deciding set for the win. The crowd noise from the fans during the fifth set, at times, approached the decibel level of a rock concert. The match was tied at 12-12 before Hagerstown scored the last three points to end the marathon match.
Northeastern head coach Anne Wissel said her team has to learn to finish. “We have a great group of players but we are missing that one player that can be a killer. They have that with No. 11 (Raleigh Doerstler). She wants the ball in crucial times. We have to find someone on our team to fill that role. It was a great match.”
Hagerstown head coach Brian Dale also talked about the match. “Our kids are tired. We have played three matches this week,” Dale said “When we won the first set easily, that was meaningless. Until you win three sets you haven’t won anything. Northeastern never quits. Alyia Diamond is such a competitor for them.”
Hagerstown (22-5) 25 25 25 18 15
Northeastern (10-10) 7 27 17 25 12
Hagerstown stat leaders: Assists: Lilah Doerstler 42, Digs: Kenly Ferriell 20, Kennedy Romack, Kills: Raleigh Doerstler 30 — Northeastern stat leaders: unavailable
A version of this article appeared in the October 7 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
