Comeback Kids
O'HARA TWP — In last Thursday's WPIAL girls volleyball semifinal playoff, Freeport overcame a two-sets-to-none hole to defeat Avonworth.
But could the Yellowjackets pull off the same feat against defending champion North Catholic?
Freeport's response was a resounding “Yes!”
The 'Jackets earned their first WPIAL title since 2016 with a thrilling 20-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-13 Class 2A triumph at Fox Chapel High School Saturday afternoon.
“Against Avonworth, I called out the seniors after we lost the first two games,” said Freeport coach Tom Phillips. “It was more mellow today. Not that we weren't concerned being down 2-0, but we believed we could do it.”
Kills from Lauren Lampus, Tori Radvan and Isabella Russo helped Freeport (19-0) maintain a modest lead throughout the fifth set. North Catholic cut the score to 14-13 with Ava Whitesel's kill, but Russo answered with one of her own to give Freeport the fifth WPIAL title in program history.
The final moments of the match were not too big for Freeport's players.
“At that point, we all wanted the ball,” said Radvan, a senior. “It was just like a warmup drill we have in practice called Queen of the Court.”
North (20-1) also entered the match undefeated.
“They were the defending champs and nobody thought we'd win, so there was no pressure on us,” said Phillips. “The girls had to just go out and play.”
From late in the first set through the second, it was the Trojanettes who had the upperhand. Senior outside hitter Dominique Felix had 12 kills to lead North to the 2-0 lead.
“We still had a lot of confidence,” said Freeport's Mackensey Jack. “We just had to calm down and pick up our defense.”
The turning point came early in the third set when the Yellowjackets opened up a 9-1 lead. Lampus tallied six kills to keep the 'Jackets alive.
“The first two sets, we played as a team,” said North senior hitter Libby Palmer, who finished the day with 15 kills. “Then we get down like we did in the third and it shocked us. We split up and started playing as individuals. We're a good team, but we have to play as a unit.”
The fourth set was up for grabs, but Lampus and Jack tallied kills and Russo a key block to help Freeport tie the match at two sets apiece.
“Pass and hit, pass and hit — that's what it came down to,” said Phillips. “The girls have a belief in our system.”
Jack was a freshman when Freeport had last won the WPIAL three years ago.
“I didn't play and just sat on the bench,” she said. “It means so much to win as a senior.”
Freeport setter Maddie Clark dished out 43 assists in the win. Lauren Lampus tallied 18 kills, Russo 17 kills and Radvan 10 kills. Erica Lampus had 26 digs.
Felix led the Trojanettes with 23 kills.
Both teams will compete in the state playoffs, which begin Tuesday.
“There's always the chance of a WPIAL hangover,” admitted Phillips, “but these girls love coming to the gym. We'll come back on Monday and get back to work.”
