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Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 9:33 PM
Paul Schofield | TribLive
The Freeport girls volleyball team saw its 19-year run as a section champion come to an end this year, but it quickly turned the page.
Now the focus is on the pursuit of getting to another WPIAL final.
The sixth-seeded Yellowjackets started their journey with a 3-0 victory over No. 11 Ringgold on Wednesday night in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
“We were awfully proud of that (section title streak), but we aren’t dwelling on it,” Freeport coach Tom Phillips said. “We just want to make sure we just go out and play our game. We want to enjoy these playoffs and take advantage of the moment.”
The Yellowjackets earned a 26-24, 25-15, 25-17 sweep and advanced to play the winner of Wednesday night’s match between No. 3 Chartiers Valley and No. 14 Laurel Highlands in Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Freeport (11-3) survived a late comeback attempt by Ringgold (13-5) to win the first set 26-24.
The Yellowjackets used a 7-0 run to build a 23-16 lead, but the Rams scored eight of the next nine points to tie the score 24-24.
A hitting error gave the Yellowjackets a one-point lead, and Payton Woods finished off the set with a tip over the net that landed in the middle of several diving Rams.
“We start so many younger players on this team,” Phillips said. “At one point we had three freshmen and two sophomores out there, and for them to settle in was huge for us. You look at Alaina (Whitlinger) and Leah (Schreckengost), they are our experienced players. It’s about getting those younger girls settled in, and we did that tonight.”
Ringgold led three times in the first set, but the run by Freeport proved too much to overcome.
The Yellowjackets never trailed in the second or third and had a comfortable lead in both.
Jayme Radvan had three kills and a pair of aces in the second set, and Alaina Whitlinger finished with four kills, including one on set point. Jaisa Gaillot also contributed a pair of aces.
Whitlinger, Radvan, and Schreckengost each had multiple kills in the third set, helping Freeport build a 19-9 lead and close out the match.
The Yellowjackets will look to make it to the WPIAL semifinals for a fourth consecutive season and the 11th time in 12 years.
“I’m happy with this team,” Phillips said. “We’re constantly working. We’ve been riddled with injuries. This is only the second game that Macy Stivenson has started at libero. Peyton Cene went down in warmups of the (regular-season finale against Mars), and I’m proud of the way Macy stepped up and played tonight.”
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
