WEXFORD — Freeport wasn't its usual self during the first round of the PIAA Class AA girls volleyball playoffs.

It didn't matter.

Zoe Pawlak tallied 14 kills, Alexis Schrecengost added 10 and Freeport swept Hopewell by scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 25-20 on Tuesday at North Allegheny High School.

Despite the victory in straight sets, Freeport coach Tom Phillips felt his team didn't have the same enthusiasm that carried the Yellowjackets to a WPIAL championship three days earlier.

“I think they call that WPIAL hangover,” said Phillips. “A lot of girls exerted a lot of energy on Saturday. We did what we had to do, but obviously it was a little different team tonight on our side.

“A win is a win,” he added. “I'm happy we're moving on.”

The 'Jackets advance to the state quarterfinals against defending PIAA champion Fort LeBoeuf — a 3-1 winner over Bradford — on Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

“Honestly, we figured we'd probably be playing them,” said Phillips. “We need to pick up our effort, get our heads back out of the clouds and come back to earth. This is the second round of states, we have to pick it up and go.”

Freeport was less than dominant Tuesday, never leading by more than six points, but rarely surrendered the advantage.

Hopewell led just twice during the match — 5-4 in the second set and 6-4 in the third.

Freeport jumped out to a 7-3 cushion in the opening stanza and the lead peaked at six, before the Vikings reeled off five straight points and cut it to 21-20.

The 'Jackets stopped the bleeding with a Pawlak kill off an assist from Grace Ward. Schrecengost eventually ended the set with Emily Toy supplying the assist.

Toy and Ward recorded 17 assists apiece. Toy also chipped in three kills.

“I felt like we were a little off because we were tired from winning WPIALs and playing our butts off the past few games,” said Toy, a senior. “That's the one thing that's great about our team is if a few players are really tired, we have enough people and so much depth that we can just pick it up, pull through and win.”

The 'Jackets were clinging to a 21-19 edge before four consecutive points gave Freeport a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Toy concluded the run by identifying a soft spot in the Hopewell defense and setting the ball to the vacant floor.

The Vikings trailed just 17-16 in the final set, but Jessica Kelley keyed Freeport to a 5-0 run with two kills and a block. The junior finished with six kills.

Schrecengost tallied seven of her 10 kills in the third, including match point on an assist from Toy.

Lauryn Driscoll and Gabby Stala paced a balanced Hopewell effort with seven kills apiece. Mackenzi Woolsey added six kills and Jordan Trombetta tallied 24 assists.

“I'm proud of my kids. ... That's the best in our district and we were right there,” said Hopewell coach Terry Borkovic. “I thought we played an excellent volleyball match.”

Strong serving and defense played a large factor in the Freeport win.

Pawlak recorded three aces, while Toy and Schrecengost added two apiece.

Senior libero Brittney Bianco, who also had an ace, was the glue to the defensive effort.

“Brittney is special,” said Phillips. “She was pretty solid tonight on the defensive end. I thought she had a lot of good saves.”

Bianco was happy to do her part in helping Freeport become one of the last eight girls volleyball teams standing in Class AA.

“It feels really good. It's an accomplishment to say the least,” said Bianco. “I think we were really lacking energy and it showed a lot in our play, but we were still able to push through and win it, so that's all that matters. We got the W.”

Bianco and Toy have not-so-fond memories of Fort LeBoeuf and are looking forward to Saturday's quarterfinal.

“I'm very excited,” said Bianco. “They were the ones that beat us in our freshman year when we were in the state playoffs.”

“I think we'll definitely come out strong on Saturday,” said Toy. “We've played them previously in states and lost, so it's time for revenge.”