Freeport faces stiff test against unbeaten Philipsburg-Osceola in PIAA quarterfinals

By: Nathan Breisinger
Friday, November 10, 2023 | 2:19 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

When the Freeport girls volleyball team entered the gym for its Monday practice on the heels of its heartbreaking five-set loss to Beaver in the WPIAL championship, coach Tom Phillips brought them together.

The team gathered for 45 minutes.

“When we got back into the gym after the WPIAL championship, we were disappointed,” Phillips said. “We sat before that practice and talked about what lies ahead of us. I told them, the pressure’s off them now.”

What awaited Freeport? A chance to win back-to-back PIAA championships for the first time. This time, there would be no worry about remaining perfect throughout the postseason.

The Yellowjackets regrouped and made the two-hour bus ride to play District 10 champion North East.

In front of a packed and hostile crowd at North East’s home gym, the Yellowjackets fought their way to a sweep (25-19, 25-18, 25-23).

After the first-round victory, Phillips continued to praise the resiliency his team has shown throughout the season.

“We did enough to get the win in the environment we were in,” he said. “I’m very proud of these girls. We got back in the gym on Monday, put together a game plan and stuck to our game plan.”

The win set up a rematch of last year’s PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal with Philipsburg-Osceola on Saturday at Punxsutawney.

Philipsburg-Osceola is looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Yellowjackets as the Mounties aim to win a District 6 title and state title in the same year.

The Mounties (23-0) will provide a hefty challenge for the Yellowjackets (21-2) as they return everyone from last season and are led by Indiana commit Reese Hazleton.

“Reese Hazleton is a dynamic player. You have to account for her,” Phillips said. “A lot of times, with really good solid players, you can serve to them and maybe take them out of the play or make them transition, but its not that way with her. Last year, we knew we had to go up against her, and this year she’s just as much dynamic as she was last year.”

Hazleton had 17 kills against Avonworth in a sweep (25-11, 25-10, 25-12) to open the state tournament.

Freeport will rely on its strong group of seniors, including Sydney Selker, Grace Beach, Josie Russo and Autumn English, to counter Hazleton and the Mounties’ offense.

“Our seniors have been absolutely terrific,” Phillips said. “They’ve really stepped up. They’ve been equally good from the standpoint that they are a very tight-knit group, and they are leaders.”

Selker finished with 10 kills and Russo with nine against North East, but it was junior Alaina Whitlinger who led the Yellowjackets with 11 kills.

Phillips spoke highly of Whitlinger and fellow juniors Ava Dreher and Ruby Furer and the depth they bring to the lineup.

“They play instrumental roles in our rotation right now,” Phillips said. “They have the experience factor, and we’ll be counting on them.”

The Mounties also feature a well-built rotation, Phillips said.

“They have two good outsides, two good middles and two good setters,” hes said. “They’re just a very balanced team just like we are. They come at you from all different angles.”

Against Avonworth, Sophie Ganville finished with seven kills, and Ava Ropert registered five with three blocks.

In what’s expected to be another hard-fought match between the two programs, Phillips and the Yellowjackets will look for a boost from their “X-factor.”

The emergence of sophomore libero Peyton Cene has been significant for Freeport.

“She has gotten to the point where she has settled in and can pass the ball and do her job at a very high level,” Phillips said. “She had some moments where she struggled (against North East) a little, but she settled in and did from her service line.”

During the first-round matchup, Cene was 16 for 16 from the service line.

For the Yellowjackets to top the Mounties, they will need to clean up their service-receive effort.

“I don’t think we were as crisp as we need to be,” Phillips said. “We struggled passing the ball and staying in system. When you stay in system, it prevents the opportunity for the setter to use multiple offenses and multiple weapons.”

First serve between Freeport and Philipsburg-Osceola is set for noon.

Tags: Freeport