Tom Phillips watched helplessly last season as the injuries piled up.

Tori Radvan missed the season with a torn ACL. Haley Graham and Sarah Hettich, two key members of Freeport's 2017 PIAA Class AA championship team, also missed significant time.

Still, the Yellowjackets upset North Catholic in the state playoffs and reached the semifinals.

“Last year was probably one of my best teams athletically, but to lose (Radvan) and Haley and Sarah for a lengthy period of time, it was tough.”

As always, though, Freeport had depth and withstood the injury storm.

This year, Radvan is back. So are all-state performers Maddie Clark at setter and Lauren Lampus at the net.

Isabella Russo is poised for a breakout year as a senior and Phillips can also turn to Cora Crytzer, Erica Lampus and Mackensey Jack for key contributions.

Freeport also did something a little different this summer. The Yellowjackets changed the way they trained.

“We did cross fit all summer,” Phillips said. “They all added quite a bit of muscle to their physique. It's noticeable. They added to their upper body strength.”

Russo said the training was unlike anything she had ever done before.

“It was pretty intense,” the 6-foot-1 senior said. “We're all in pretty good shape.”

Another team that is in good shape is Knoch.

The Knights also won a PIAA championship in 2017 and are looking to get back on top of the Class AAA mountain.

Knoch won 48 consecutive matches before falling to Warren in the semifinals last season.

The Knights are also shooting for their third consecutive WPIAL title.

To get there, they will rely on a bevy of seniors — nine of them.

“It's definitely a different dynamic this year,” said Knoch coach Diane Geist, who is entering her 33rd season.

Hannah Rowe, Kennedy Christy and Skylar Burkett are back and form one of the most intimidating and formidable trios in the state.

Burkett emerged as a force last season as a junior.

There may be another junior waiting to do the same in Quinn Hughes, who could be this season's Burkett.

“She reminds me so much of myself,” Burkett said of Quinn.

Both Freeport and Knoch have lofty goals this season.

“I want them to have a long-term goal,” Geist said. “But the next win is what's important.”

Knoch is already 3-0 this season.

Another team looking to rebound after a disappointing end to a promising season is North Catholic, which was undefeated before Freeport ended the run in an epic five-set marathon in the state quarterfinals.

North Catholic lost some talent from that team, but Dominique Felix returns.

“I think every coach would love to have a player like Dominique on the court,” said North Catholic coach Amanda Fetter. “She's special off the court, too. She's a great leader and understands the game.”

Some other things to look for this high school volleyball season:

Butler only has three seniors — Gabby Lucas, Hailey Metzger and Allie Schnur — but a bevy of young talent.

That youth movement is led by freshman Ava Carney, who is already off to a blistering start for the Golden Tornado.

“We are very, very young,” said Butler coach Meghan Lucas. “We lost seven seniors and we have freshmen starting varsity, but they're doing an excellent job. We will get better as the season goes on.”

That's because the Golden Tornado are solid across the board.

Gabby Lucas has excelled all over the court. Sophia Lucas, a junior, is a standout setter.

Sophomores Taylor Welter and Megan Penrod and freshmen Justin Forbes and Maisy Gibson will round out what could be a dangerous team late in the season.

Seneca Valley will play this season without its head coach, Karen Martini, who will be away this season while recovering from a pair of ankle surgeries.

“It was a really tough decision, but I can't put weight on my feet for several months,” Martini said. “It was really tough for me.”

In her place will be long-time assistant Brett Poirer.

The Raiders struggled last season, especially early, but have a slew of young talent.

Junior all-state setter Sarah White is back and she will be asked to do even more this season.

“We had a tough season last year, but we have a lot of the team back,” White said. “I'm super excited for the season. We're getting better every day and we have really good team chemistry. I think if we can limit our errors, there's not much we can't accomplish.”

Other players to watch: Anna DeGraaf (Seneca Valley); Beth Long, Emily Hayward (Mars); Annika Peale, Taylor Balint, Lexis Prementine, Virginia Recchia, Tiffany Madison (Slippery Rock); Abby Regal, Aslyn Pry (Moniteau); Mackenzie Dunn, Emily Huff, Cassidy Nolan (Karns City); Emily Wetzel, Mia Sherman, Meah Ielase, Andrea Meals, Hannah Farrington (A-C Valley); Dominika Logue, Morgan Cumberland (Union).