North Hagerstown volleyball standout verbally commits to Division I program

Caydence Doolan's past is helping shape her future.

Doolan, who was the 2023 Herald-Mail Washington County Volleyball Player of the Year as a sophomore after leading North Hagerstown to a second straight Maryland Class 3A state championship, has verbally committed to play for Division I Marquette University in Milwaukee.

"Before (my family) moved to Maryland, we lived in a small town close to Milwaukee," Doolan said. "I would go watch their basketball games, and once in a while a volleyball game. It was the first college setting I ever saw.

"I went back a few weeks ago for a camp, and it was just a great environment. The players were great with each other, and the coaches worked great with the players and campers there. It's a beautiful campus, a great school and a great fit for me. Seeing the campus again told me this was where I really wanted to go."

The Doolan sisters will both play D1 volleyball

This is the second straight summer in which a Doolan sister has verbally committed to a Division I volleyball program. Older sister Baylee, who was an all-county first-team honoree as a junior last year, verbally committed to the Naval Academy following her sophomore year.

In many ways and for many years, Baylee has paved the way for Caydence.

"I remember my sister started a little before me in elementary school," Caydence said. "I'd see her play and she'd talk about practice, and I thought it would be cool and something I wanted to try. We played together and went to nationals for the first time at age 9 or 10, and I knew this was what I wanted to do -- for the rest of my life, maybe."

From a role player to a Hubs leader

Caydence made North Hagerstown's varsity team as a freshman in 2022. She averaged 1.62 kills per set as a roleplayer on a Hubs team loaded with experience, including two-time county player of the year Gabby Grantham-Medley.

"My freshmen year, I came in with all these experienced girls who had just been to the state semifinals," Caydence said. "They got me ready."

Following the 2022 state championship, six seniors graduated from North and coach Megan Crawford -- who will be inducted into the Washington County Hall of Fame later this month -- stepped down. Lacie Johnson took the coaching reins and both Doolan sisters stepped up into leadership roles.

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"It's been very different, both seasons," Caydence said. "They have different coaching styles but they're both great coaches. … It was really nice to be able to step up and make a bigger impact my sophomore year. That was a big jump, going from being one of the little freshmen on the team, to being someone who could help dictate what was going on."

Caydence led the county in kills per set (4.14), ranked second among hitters in efficiency (.384) and added 3.08 digs per set for the Hubs in 2023 as they finished 19-1 and repeated as 3A state titlists.

"It's been amazing, having a team this good and this competitive," Caydence said. "Being able to go after every point in a game, knowing I have players who can back me up, is amazing. We work really well together and I'm really proud of that."

The Doolan sisters have one more year together at North -- gunning for a state three-peat -- before Baylee heads to Annapolis.

"It's been a lot of fun. We have a great relationship," Caydence said. "We're always doing workouts together and being able to play together in high school has been a great experience."