Tougher schedule key for Freeport

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

August 27, 2007 Last Updated: August 27, 2007 02:07 PM High School

In the last two regular seasons, the Freeport volleyball team has gone 35-0.

But the Yellowjackets have zero playoff wins to show for it.

That might change this season. Sixth-year coach Tom Phillips tweaked the schedule, putting his team in some top-notch tournaments.

The regular-season winning streak may end, but Freeport may be better off in the postseason for it.

"We want to play a tougher schedule to get stronger for the playoffs," Phillips said. "Honestly, we've marched through the section relatively untested the last two seasons. I told our girls, 'We don't pick who we play in the section.'"

But Phillips is picking the competition in the tournaments in which his team will play.

"These tournaments have a lot more playoff caliber teams," Phillips said. "It's more like what we will see in the playoffs and that can only help us."

Freeport lost some talent to graduation from its undefeated '06 team, but the Yellowjacket talent pipeline continues to spit out replacements.

"We're not the most athletically gifted team, but this may be the best team I've had," Phillips said.

Following is a capsulated preview of the area volleyball teams:

• Coach: Meghan Lucas, fifth year• Last year: 7-8 overall, 7-5 in the section.• Siding out: Amy Achesinski, Yuki Schaper• In the rotation: Katie Willison (senior), Sam Harris (senior), Ashley Grenet (senior), BeckySmith (junior), Stephanie Mock (junior), Rachel Doutt (junior), Caitlyn Cress (junior), Jackie Zellonis (junior), Brynn Maxwell (sophomore), Amanda Huey(sophomore), Abbie Druschel (sophomore)• Outlook: The Golden Tornado took a huge step forward last season, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons.The team is looking to not only make the playoffs again, but win in the postseason."The kids are not happy just making the playoffs this year," Lucas said. "They want to make some noise in the section."

• Coach: KarenMartini, second year• Last year: 12-8• Siding out: Angela Hagey, Kaylin Noch, Liz Dorogy, Elaina Sabatine• In the rotation: Lauren Balmert (senior), Jennifer Boyd (senior), Justine Carrow (senior), MeghanFranz (junior), Sarah Beals (junior), Jillian Galloway (junior), Emily Hannon (senior), Maggie Gillooly (junior), Kellie Karasac (junior), Paige Banyas (junior), Dana Hughes (junior), Cassie Kulp (junior)• Outlook: The Raiders are coming off a fourth-place finish in the WPIAL and Martini believes the team she has returning this season can pick off where that team left off."We're going for the big stuff," Martini said.Seneca Valley will see just how good it is when the Raiders take on a team fromChina Sept 13 at 1:05 p.m. at the high school."It's a great experience," Martini said. "Especially with the Olympics (which are going to be held in China this winter) coming up."

• Coach: Diane Geist, 21st year• Last year: 14-2• Siding out: Leanne Wiefling, Renee Crimbchin, Danuelle Heckathorn• In the rotation: Kirsten Brant (senior), Zoe Hughes (senior), Ashlee Antoszyk (senior), Liz Ogershok (senior), Michelle Steinmiller (senior), Ashley Neurohr (senior), Sara Montgomery (junior), Tori Lark (freshman), Missy Walter (senior), Danae Karenbaurer (senior), Chelea Yurisic (senior), Jasmine Ortiz (senior), Keisha Michel (senior)• Outlook: The team suffered a huge blow when Brant, a four-year starting setter, broke her foot in practice. How long she is out of action is to be determined.Still, Knoch has the talent to once against compete for a section title."It's more of a challenge, but the girls want to go undefeated and win the section," Geist said. "You don't change those goals."

• Coach: Dan Mountain, first year• Last year: N/A• Siding out: Jodi Leopold, Alyssa Skoff• In the rotation: Britt Morgan (senior), Kelsey Rovnan (senior), Casey Kivkaszewski (senior), Casey Parrish (senior), Angela Schwab (senior)• Outlook: Mountain, who was an assistant coach at Pine-Richland for the past three seasons, has coached volleyball at virtually every level. He was hired to coach the Planets in April and quickly discovered his new team has a lot of talent.

• Coach: Tom Phillips, sixth year• Last year: 17-0• Siding out: Ashley Stover• In the rotation: Samantha Campbell (senior), Brittany Turley (senior), Amanda Zahumensky (junior), Madison Rotto (sophomore), Carlie Bieranowski (sophomore)• Outlook: The Yellowjackets seemed poised for another run at a section title and perhaps some postseason luck, which has eluded them in year's past."This is my sixth year," Phillips said, "and this is probably the most talented team I have had."

• Coach: Greg Dugan, eighth year• Last year: 8-5• Siding out: Jessica Speicher• In the rotation: KristenStaugh (senior), CurstyMcClure (senior), SaxonAngerett (senior), Hilly Pendel (junior)• Outlook: Speicher is a big loss — she holds four school records — but the Rockets return a deep and talented team bent on making it back to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus.

• Coach: Shawnee Denbow, 17th year• Last year: 20-3• Siding out: Ashley Patterson, Sam Baseler, Kari Barnes, Chelsea Harrison, Logan Sanders, Jenna Kelly (injured all of '06)• In the rotation: CaitlinRothman (senior), Lacey Aloisio (senior), Rachel Ennis (senior), Lauryn Franklin (senior), Caitlin McNamara (sophomore), Becky Brahaney (senior), Elizabeth Ulrich (junior), Elise Sykola (junior), Sammi Bell (sophomore), CarlyForese (sophomore), Caurtney Risch (junior), Phylicia King (sophomore)• Outlook: The Eagles finished second in the District 10 tournament last season, and there is no reason why Grove City can't return to the district title match.Grove City is tall and physical at the net.Rothman and Aloisio are nearly 6-foot. Ulrich is 6-2."This is the biggest team I have ever had," Denbow said. "We have to work on our backcourt defense, but you don't need it that much when you have the girls who can block at the net like I do."

• Coach: Marcy Isacco, fourth year• Last year: Advanced to second round of District 9 playoffs• Siding out: HaleyCallihan, Stepanie Isacco, Courtney Slagle, Jessica Spafford• In the rotation: Laken Morrow (senior), Brianna Bowser (senior), Katie Weibel (senior), Erica Bullman (senior), Emily Calendar (senior), Ashley Campbell (junior), Laura Isacco (junior), Thea Sandman (junior)• Outlook: It wasn't long ago when the Gremlins suffered through back-to-back winless seasons. Now Karns City is coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, including a first-round playoff win last season."They've come a long way," Isacco said.

• Coach: Anna White, second year• Last year: 6-12• Siding out: "Everyone," White said. The Warriors are losing nine seniors.• In the rotation: Veronica Martin (senior), Kathleen Harding (sophomore), Billie Jo Brehm (junior), Amber Neff (junior), Nicole Campbell (junior)• Outlook: Despite losing much of the starting lineup last season,White said she believes her team can improve on the record of a season ago."I'm expecting good things from us," White said. "It's a big jump from junior varsity to varsity, but so far, they have performed very well. This is going to be a building year, but I'm hoping for an improved record."

• Coach: Barry Divins, 14th year• Last year: 17-4• Siding out: Janele Divins, TiffanyCorle, Denyelle Painter• In the rotation: Melissa Shook (junior), Leah Flick (junior), Lepha Logue (sophomore), Tina Lipps (freshman)• Outlook: The Damsels lost a slew of talent to graduation, but that's no reason to panic, Divins said."We always look to be competitive in the league," Divins said. "We might surprise a few people."