FREEPORT — The goal was a simple one for the Freeport girls volleyball team Wednesday night: flex its muscles.

The undefeated Yellowjackets did exactly that, defeating Seton-LaSalle 3-0 in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs.

None of the games were close: 25-11, 25-11, 25-14.

"Serve aggressively, attack the net and play hard," Freeport coach Tom Phillips said. "We wanted to establish that mode early."

The Yellowjackets (16-0) fell behind 5-3 in the first game before scoring 10 of the next 11 points. They never trailed again.

"Their serving was a part of this," Seton-LaSalle coach Mark Felbinger said. "Serve and receive is not a strong part of our game and we were very poor at it tonight.

"If you don't get your first pass off, you can't win."

Freeport plays the winner of tonight's Hopewell-Laurel Highlands match in the quarterfinal round Tuesday. The 'Jackets were bounced from the quarterfinal round the previous two years.

"Not this time," senior opposite hitter Alyssa Vigliotti said. "We won't let it happen."

Freeport has won 48 of 50 matches over the past three years. The team is led by seniors Vigliotti, setter Madison Rotto, middle hitter Ashley Massart and outside hitter Carlie Bieranowski.

"There are no superstars on this team," Phillips said. "Everybody plays a part. Those four seniors are our heart, though. They're our leaders."

"We know each other's moves on the court because we've been together so long. We read each other well," Bieranowski said.

Bieranowski led the team with 11 kills Wednesday. Massart had seven kills and four blocks, Rotto seven kills and three blocks. Lauren Prunty, a junior, added three blocks.

Freeport had 10 service aces. Bieranowski had three of them, Rotto, Massart and Anna Christy two each.

"Serving is a big part of our success," Phillips said. "We put the other team in defensive mode. A good serve takes the opposition out of what it wants to do."

Felbinger acknowledged that his setter "was running all over the place."

"We weren't on our game tonight and that bothers me," the Rebels coach said. "I can handle losing if we leave it all on the court. Instead, we left a lot of plays out there tonight."

Senior Natalie Kist paced the Rebels (10-6) with seven points.

A boisterous student section has helped the Yellowjackets' cause.

"We love those guys," Phillips said. "The support they give us is unbelievable."

"They make us laugh and keep us loose," Rotto said. "Some of the cheers they do are pretty funny. This is a relaxing place for us."

And an intimidating place for the visiting team.

"Most volleyball teams aren't used to this atmosphere," Phillips said.

"Having home field was helpful to them," Felbinger said. "But my understanding is their section wasn't very strong. Blackhawk has bigger girls who hit harder. I'd give Mars a shot at them, too."

Phillips is worried only about moving on to the next round.

"This is a seasoned team with some lofty goals. Tonight was only Step 1," he said.