O'HARA TWP — Things were going according to plan for Freeport's girls volleyball team.

The Yellowjackets kept Hampton's attack from forming a rhythm and won the first set of Tuesday's PIAA Class 3A semifinal playoff in convincing fashion.

As it turned out, it would be the high point of the evening for Freeport at Fox Chapel High School.

The Talbots responded by taking the next three sets to advance to Saturday's state championship match by scores of 17-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-16.

“Freeport is a very good team and we knew it was going to take our best effort to beat them,” said Hampton coach Annie Bozzo. “I told the girls that if we focus hard on our side of the net, we can't be beat.”

It was the fourth time this season the 'Jackets and Talbots met on the court. They split two meetings in the regular season and Freeport defeated Hampton for the WPIAL championship Nov. 6.

“Hampton has a wonderful team,” said Freeport coach Tom Phillips. “They come at you from all directions and we did a lot of uncharacteristic things tonight.”

The Talbots (18-3) featured several players with notable efforts, but the team's turnaround hinged largely on the play of sophomore outside hitter Emmy Schrom.

She tallied seven kills in the second set, which saw the Talbots jump out to an 11-1 lead. Freeport, which was whistled for a number of net violations, played much better down the stretch in the set, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

senior Tuesday night in Erica Lampus.

“We wanted to take the next step badly, but I think our youth showed itself a bit tonight,” Phillips said.

Hampton led the pivotal third set 13-8 before the 'Jackets reeled off six straight points to take a slim lead. The run included a service ace from junior setter Cassidy Dell.

But Schrom and her teammates ripped momentum away from the 'Jackets. She tallied three late kills, including the final point to put Hampton up two games to one.

Schrom finished the match with 20 kills.

“I'm so proud of her,” said Bozzo. “She's just a sophomore and we rely on her so much. She's a go-to player for us and plays to win no matter what.”

Kills from Schrom and Kai Herchenroether helped stake Hampton to a 7-1 edge in the fourth set and Freeport never was able to threaten the lead.

Lampus spurred Freeport to its fast start. She tallied five kills and Josie Russo had three kills in the first set, which saw the team open up a 14-5 lead.

“We had a great practice (Monday) and that was amplified in the first set tonight,” said Phillips, who said his players were a bit tentative. “We wanted to continue with that same intensity the whole way through, but the bigger the stakes, the harder it is. Sometimes players don't want to be the person to make the mistake and have that letdown.”

Lampus finished the night with 15 kills.

Freeport (18-2) won the sixth WPIAL title in program history this fall.

“It was a great season,” said Phillips. “I'm awfully proud of the girls and you can't take away what they accomplished.”