A-K Valley athletes of the week: Freeport’s Alaina Whitlinger, Burrell’s Taber Driscoll

By: Bill Hartlep
Saturday, October 28, 2023 | 5:07 PM

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Alaina Whitlinger

Class: Junior

School: Freeport

Sport: Volleyball

Report card: Whitlinger, a 6-foot junior outside hitter, had 13 kills and 15 service points as top-seeded Freeport beat No. 9 Shenango, 3-0, in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals on Saturday. She also had nine kills and 14 service points in a 3-0 win over Charleroi in the first round. The reigning WPIAL and PIAA champion Yellowjackets advanced to play No. 5 Avonworth in the semifinals.

How did the team play against Shenango on Saturday?

We did OK. We didn’t play our best, but we obviously played good enough to win in three sets. There are still some things we have to work on.

What are some things the team is doing well at this point in the season?

Our team is getting along very well. We definitely hold each other to high standards. Our defense has improved a lot.

What will it take to beat Avonworth in the semifinals?

It definitely will take that mentality that no ball drops and that mentality that let’s play with each other, play as team and go out and beat them. We have to play clean and sharp with no mistakes.

Have you guys talked about defending your WPIAL and PIAA titles?

It’s another goal. We want to be back to back champs and the be first to be back to back in Freeport history.

What are some of your strengths on the court?

I’m an outside hitter so one of my strengths is hitting. I also think I bring a very positive attitude to the court and try to hype up my teammates.

What is your role on this team?

Socially, I’m a goofy person, so bringing together the team and joking around. (On the court), I’m an all-around hitter so I have to put the ball down and get that kill to end the rally.

How did you get started playing volleyball?

My sister started playing in seventh grade. She was a middle. She would come over with her teammates and I said that’s fun. I started playing in sixth grade and kept going.

Do you want to continue playing in college?

Yeah, I’m looking to play in college. I’m talking with schools and trying to line that all up.

What is your favorite home-cooked meal?

My mom’s chicken noodle soup.

Do you have a favorite local restaurant?

I really like Shanghai Tokyo. Their Rangoons are delicious.

Will you dress up for Halloween?

My friends are going to go as hippies, and I’m going to go as Jesus.

Who has the best nickname on the team?

We call Ruby (Furer) ‘Root Beer.’ No body else has any crazy nicknames.

What is something people might not know about you?

That I’m good at art and ceramics. I just made this bowl, and I ate my mom’s chicken noodle soup in it.

Taber Driscoll

Class: Senior

School: Burrell

Sport: Soccer

Report card: Driscoll, a senior forward, scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime to lift No. 3-seeded Burrell to a 2-1 victory over No. 11 Trinity Christian in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals Wednesday. The Bucs will play No. 7 Bentworth in the semifinals on Monday.

How did the team play against Trinity Christian?

We came out a little flat footed at the beginning of the game. It took us a while to get any momentum. By overtime, we had the momentum. It was a long, strenuous game. It didn’t go the way we wanted, but the turnout was the way we wanted.

How was your goal set up?

Our left back, Luke Guerrini, played a through ball up the middle. He played it to the spot where the goalie had to come out. He made an attempt to slide tackle and fumbled it. It popped right over him, and I was able to play it. It was a sharp angle, but I was able to put it in.

What was the key to victory?

Trinity came out ready. You can tell they wanted an upset. We definitely were not nervous playing against them but for whatever reason something wasn’t clicking for a while. Whenever overtime hit, we started taking more shots, being more quick off the ball and responding more efficiently. We were holding on to the ball a little too much the first 80 minutes. Overtime was definitely was geared more towards us.

What are some things the team is doing well?

Our team has been very good at keeping everything positive and having a very good space to play soccer in. It’s a very good atmosphere. Everybody gets along. We don’t put anybody down. It’s all about improving others. I’ve never played with a group of players that’s been so motivating. As far as our game play, possession is one of our strongest factors. We have a very strong defense. They hold us together very well.

What do you need to do against Bentworth to advance on Monday?

Bentworth has a very strong offense. Our team has a very strong defense. A lot will come down to how our defense plays against them. A lot will be coming from us redirecting the ball up the field and getting to the plays we want to get through.

What is your role on the team?

My role is pretty straightforward. My strong suit is my speed. I’m the fastest player on the team. A lot of my plays are to try and feed our forwards. We’ll try to play balls down the field and get them and distribute them to the middle so other players can finish it. That doesn’t stop me from playing the ball where it is and taking shots.

How many goals have you scored this season?

I think three in the main season and one in the playoffs.

What are your strengths on the field?

Awareness, just being abet to play a pass and set people up for bigger plays. A lot of it is distribution. I play more of a player maker type of style.

How did you get started playing soccer?

My parents started me in kinder soccer when I was 5. It’s been on and off. I played when I was younger, I played PISA indoor league. I played a little in middle school on and off. I’ve been playing all my high school career. I’ve been having a blast with it.

Have you made plans for next fall?

Not yet. (Soccer) is not my primary goal (in college), but if it comes around and I’m feeling it, I might do it. For now, I’m not set to go that way.

What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

I’m a big spaghetti guy.

Do you have a favorite local restaurant?

Villa Ballanca. It’s a little restaurant down in Burrell.

Does the team listen to any pre-game music?

We do. We have Don Toliver, Drake, Baby Keem. It’s a broad spectrum. Mainly rap artists.

What is something people might not know about you?

I’m a very outdoorsy person. I like being out in the atmosphere. I like the peace of it all.

Is there a story behind your first name?

Yes, my family travels to Maine in the summer and my parents met a man up there named Tabor with an O. They liked the name and switched the spelling to Taber. To this day, we are friends with the guy and see him every time we travel there.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell, Freeport