FOX CHAPEL — When the match was on the line, Carlie Bieranowski went for the kill.

Bieranowski, a senior outside hitter for the Freeport volleyball team, was a force at the net in the pivotal third game against Mars in the WPIAL Class AA semifinal at Fox Chapel High School Thursday night.

Bieranowski had seven kills in the game, including three after the teams had played to a 25-25 tie, to lead Freeport to a 28-26 win.

The Yellowjackets (18-0) finished off Mars 25-13 in the fourth game for the 3-1 triumph over the Planets.

The win puts Freeport into the WPIAL Class AA championship game for the first time in school history and will play West Allegheny Saturday for the title.

Freeport held off Mars for a 27-25 win in the first game, but unraveled in the second game to lose 25-17 to the Planets, setting up the all-important Game 3.

"Every once in a while we would get the long faces," said Freeport senior Madison Rotto. "But you just have to tell everyone to calm down and get back to basics. You can't get too high or too low. You just have to find a medium."

They found it in Bieranowski, who channeled a victory for Freeport, finishing the match with 16 kills, with most quashing Mars rallies.

"That's Carlie being Carlie," said Rotto, who spent most of the match setting up her fellow senior. "When she gets going like that, you just set it up to her and you know you are getting a point."

Both Freeport coach Tom Phillips and Mars coach Dan Mountain said they expected a tight match.

They certainly got it.

"Every single point was a battle," Phillips said. "We really weren't on top of our game tonight. We played a little sluggish. When we were aggressive, we played well.

"I think the big point was Game 3 when we battled back and made them earn every point," Phillips added. "(Carlie) certainly came up big."

So did Camblin Leonard for Mars.

Leonard, a senior and a big presence at the net for the Planets, showed a knack for knowing when to hit the ball hard and when to dink it into an open area of the floor.

That led to 16 kills for Leonard, who took over Game 2 for the Planets with seven kills.

She certainly drew Rotto's praise.

"She was awesome," Rotto said. "She was a really well-rounded player. She was really hard to read. But our middles got some blocks on her and she started to get a little frustrated and missed some serves."

Despite the loss, the Planets will advance to the PIAA Class AA tournament, which begins Tuesday.

"Losing two games by two points is hard to bounce back from," Mountain said. "But we are in the state playoffs and I'm so proud of the girls for what they have done this year. They are proud to be the best team that Mars has ever had."

Freeport also is in the state tournament no matter what happens Saturday against West Allegheny.

Like Mars, it is the first time Freeport has advanced to the PIAA playoffs.

"These girls worked so hard for where they are at right now," Phillips said.