In a match filled with long rallies, powerful hits and stellar defense, Centennial’s Kaley Maclellan knew nothing was for certain until she pounded down match point in a four-set volleyball victory over River Hill Wednesday night.

“When we’re focusing on that point, we’re thinking it’s just any other point and trying not to think it is the game point, because that throws you off mentally,” Maclellan said. “Then it was just a celebration. Obviously, this was a huge win for us because they were the other team in the county that was undefeated.”

With the 25-21, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17 victory on Senior Night, the No. 2 Eagles (13-0) improved to 11-0 in Howard County. If they can beat No. 11 Marriotts Ridge in Wednesday’s regular-season finale, they will win their first county championship since 2012.

The No. 4 Hawks (10-1, 8-1) had the most trouble contending with Centennial’s 6-foot middle hitters Maclellan and Skylar Brown. Maclellan had 10 kills and Brown had eight and each had just one hitting error on a combined 48 attacks.

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“They were a big difference,” said River Hill coach Lynn Painter, noting Maclellan’s placement throughout the match and Brown’s power early.

Later in the match, the Hawks managed to get a block on Brown a few times and that opened more opportunities on the outside, especially for Mailinh Godschall and Emma Booth, who combined for seven kills in the final set.

But Centennial setter Brianna Bossom said the versatility of her middle hitters keeps opponents off guard.

“I think that both of our middles did a really good job and they’re very different,” said Bossom, who had 24 assists. “They like running different sets and they like hitting different shots and it’s really good to kind of switch up an offense. You’ve got to keep the (opposing) middles guessing the entire time as to what they’re going to run and how they’re going to run it and all sets that they run, they run them at a really fast tempo so you don’t have time to catch up.”

Brown got the Eagles off to a quick start with the first point in three sets. Neither team led either of the first two sets by more than four points.

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The Eagles appeared ready to take the second set after Godschall’s ace boosted their lead to 22-19, but Paula Elguera answered that with a kill and the Hawks finished off the match with a six-point run capped by Grace Leska’s kill.

The Hawks, however, could not carry the momentum into the third game and Centennial jumped out to an 8-1 lead, sparked by a kill and two blocks from Brown and aces from Bossom and Godschall, who finished with 11 kills. The Hawks rallied to tie at 17 and tied it again three more times, before Brown’s kill gave Centennial a 2-1 lead.

In the final game, the Hawks struggled with their passing and the Eagles played exceptional back-row defense, led by libero Caleigh Kim along with Godschall, Christine Liu and Jenny Dong. Once the Eagles took a 20-9 lead on a long rally, saved several times by Kim’s digs and capped by Booth’s kill, the Hawks got no closer than within six.

Between the second and third game, Centennial coach Mike Bossom told his team they needed some adjustments because the Hawks were making more plays than they were.

“I said, ‘Whoever makes the most plays is going to win the game and win the match,’” said the coach, “and basically, game three, we started off with very few mistakes, made a couple in the middle and they caught up. Game four, we didn’t make a lot of mistakes and that really was the difference. We made them continue to make plays and it’s hard to maintain that.”

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The Hawks had more kills in the match with Leska leading the way with 22 while Elguera and Mackenzie Calhoun had 11 each. Calhoun also had 44 assists.

Painter said the Hawks have to pass better than they did in the fourth game, but that her team did make some adjustments later in the match, including hitting around some of Centennial’s big blocks.

“I’m pleased with the performance,” Painter said. “Even though it’s a loss, I feel like it’s a win because it will help us prepare for the rest of the regular season games and then the playoffs. I think it will make us that much of a stronger team with what we gleaned from today.”

The Hawks finish their season with No. 3 Reservoir (9-2, 7-1) Tuesday and Marriotts Ridge (9-2, 8-1) Wednesday. They are likely to face defending state champion Reservoir again in the regional playoffs that begin Nov. 3. The Eagles are also in Class 3A, but the Hawks couldn’t meet them before the state quarterfinals.