Freeport denied in bid for 3-peat
WHITEHALL — Looking to become just the fifth girls volleyball program to win three straight WPIAL titles, Freeport's bid for history had one main antagonist: Macy McElhaney.
Beaver's 6-foot senior middle hitter had 22 kills, five of them coming in the decisive fifth set won by the Bobcats in a dramatic 3-2 decision over the Yellowjackets in the Class AA final at Baldwin High School Saturday afternoon.
“Everyone knew where they were going with the ball,” said Freeport coach Tom Phillips, “but knowing and stopping it are two different things.”
The 'Jackets led the fifth set 12-10, but the Bobcats scored three straight points, including one on a kill from McElhaney, to take a 13-12 lead.
Freeport's Sarah Hettich scored on a block of McElhaney's next kill attempt to tie the game, but the latter tallied a kill and a block to close out the 18-25, 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 15-13 victory.
“What made the difference was that Macy's passes have improved,” said Bobcat coach Charlene Horwatt. “That's what gave us a chance today.”
The result avenged Beaver's 3-1 loss to Freeport in last year's championship.
Less than two hours before being handed the WPIAL championship trophy, Beaver appeared as though it didn't belong on the same court with the two-time defending champion Yellowjackets (18-2).
Lauren Lampus and Hettich dominated the opening moments of the match for Freeport, which put the Bobcats in a 10-1 hole.
“We came out smokin',” Phillips said. “We changed our rotation from what we're used to showing and it caught them off guard.”
Beaver recovered enough to make the final score of the first set respectable. Horwatt then told her players to forget about it.
“Freeport isn't just used to getting here, they're used to winning it,” she said. “If you're going to play badly, do it in the first set and move on.”
Beaver began to do that in earnest in the second set. Middle hitter Alexa Mamone led her team's win there with five kills and McElhaney dropped seven of them in the third set to put the 'Jackets down 2-1.
Fighting for survival, Freeport turned to junior Ally DeJidas, who tallied six of her team-leading 12 kills in the fourth set. A kill from 'Jackets' senior outside hitter Hannah Mason sent the match to a fifth set.
“We made more switches to our rotation. I just wish I would have done it sooner,” Phillips said
Courtney Grubbs, Mason and DeJidas each helped put the 'Jackets in position to win the final set with clutch kills, but McElhaney and the Bobcats executed better over the final points of the match.
“It was a great match,” said Phillips. “I give our girls a lot of credit. They showed effort and heart. In my mind they are champions one way or another.”
