Freeport volleyball commands respect in move up to 3A

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 | 6:44 PM

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The seniors on this year’s Freeport girls volleyball team know what it is like to face the competition in Class 3A.

It was just three years ago in 2021, when the current senior group were freshman, the Yellowjackets put it all together and claimed the WPIAL Class 3A title before making an additional run to the PIAA semifinals.

Now, back in Class 3A after the most recent two-year cycle in Class 2A, Freeport is ready to maintain the standard of consistent play and make some noise when postseason play arrives.

“Being familiar with triple-A, we know the competition is going to be there night in and night out,” veteran Yellowjackets coach Tom Phillips said.

“They know they are going to go into the gym and have to battle for wins.”

Phillips said the numbers showed Freeport was three girls over the cut line between them returning to Class 2A and moving back up to Class 3A.

“We have a lot of very young kids playing with all of the experienced seniors we lost from last year,” Phillips said. “We also know this isn’t necessarily a rebuilding year because we do have some really good experience back.”

Freeport lost to Beaver in last year’s Class 2A title game. Both the Yellowjackets and Bobcats fell to eventual state champion Philipsburg-Osceola in the PIAA tournament.

The preseason WPIAL rankings for Class 3A came out recently, and Beaver and Freeport are the top two teams followed by defending Class 3A champion Hampton, and then Mars and South Fayette.

Phillips expects several top-flight section battles between Freeport, Hampton, and Mars.

“That is a testament to us and Beaver to move up in classification and be ranked No. 1 and No. 2,” Phillips said. “These are preseason rankings, but I think we have the ability to stay in that upper echelon with Beaver. It is pretty interesting to see how it will all play out.”

Freeport this year is gunning for its 20th section title in a row.

“We’re pretty proud of that mark,” Phillips said. “That’s quite a feat. All of the players don’t want to be part of the group that lets that streak end. That is part of the goals and expectations they’ve set for themselves.”

Freeport opened its season Monday with a 3-0 home victory over District 10 power Corry.

The Yellowjackets and Beavers have met a couple of times recently in the PIAA playoffs, and the programs are familiar with each other.

Phillips said that the match was closer than the three-game sweep would indicate. Freeport outlasted Corry, 31-29, in Game 1.

“Against Corry, we had five new varsity starters in the rotation,” Phillips said. “Corry is one of the best programs in Western Pennsylvania. They have a first-class operation. People might ask me, ‘Why would you want to play them the very first match?’ It was just good completion that really showed us where our young team stands.

“It was a battle for both the JV and varsity. It was a testament of two very good teams playing each other.”

With the loss of four key starters, led by first-team all-state middle hitter Josie Russo and including second-team All-WPIAL picks Grace Beach and Sydney Selker and all-section selection Autumn English, several younger players are getting increased varsity time this season.

But as youthful as the team is, all-state selection in senior outside hitter Alaina Whitlinger and All-WPIAL third-teamer in senior right side Leah Schreckengost are among five seniors who will help carry the load.

“I think everyone who was a senior played last year,” Whitlinger said. “That created a lot of openings and a lot of opportunities coming back, and so many girls stepped up. If we win sections, it will be our 20th, so that is a little pressure on us. But it will be fun to go after that. We always set high expectations, and I know we can meet those expectations.”

Also back is senior starter in outside hitter/opposite Ruby Furer as well as senior defensive specialist Sylvia Crytzer and senior defensive specialist/setter Ava Dreher.

“Alaina, Leah, and Ruby played significant roles in the team last year,” Phillips said. “All five seniors are terrific leaders for this team and have really helped bring along the younger girls.”

Junior libero Peyton Cene started last year as a sophomore.

“Peyton has really grown and matured,” Phillips said. “She’s really taken on a leadership role, too.”

Phillips said freshman setter Caylee Zembrzuski will make an impact.

“She played two years of middle school volleyball, and she played club ball and AAU,” Phillips said. “I had my eye on her, and I worked with her already. She’s a smart, athletic girl. She brings a lot to the table.”

Zembrzuski, Phillips said, is complemented at setter by junior Jaisa Gaillot.

“Jaisa was our JV setter last year,” Phillips said. “Both learned a lot last night against Corry. We did a lot of open gyms and personal training with them, and they are starting to get that connection. They worked hard all summer.”

Phillips said he also is counting on a pair of first-year varsity middle hitters in sophomore Jayme Radvan and junior Payton Woods.

“They’ve both played at a high level in club, and they have come in here and done a great job,” Phillips said.

Phillips said he is excited to see how the eight-member freshman class will grow this season.

“There are times this season that there will be three freshmen on the court playing,” he said. “They are talented and are really challenging for playing time.”

Phillips said there was a lot of motivation among the returning players and even those new to varsity coming back after the tough 3-0 PIAA quarterfinal loss to Philipsburg-Osceola.

“These girls have been working so hard all summer long,” Phillips said. “Two days a week the girls were in the gym playing, every Monday and Thursday. They did crossfit every Tuesday and Thursday. I had 37 girls who participated in crossfit all summer to the first of August. They put the time in, and that kind of dedication is what makes the program what it is.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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