Volley on!
JACKSON TWP — Tears streamed down their ruddy cheeks. Arms thrust into the air. Then a mob near the net. Jumping. Celebrating. Unbridled glee.
For the Freeport volleyball team, its 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 25-18 win over Beaver in the PIAA 2A semifinal Tuesday night at Seneca Valley High School meant so much more than merely a trip to the state title match in Johnstown this weekend.
It meant the culmination of a dream. And it meant sweet vindication.
“We've been working really hard these past 10 days to get to this point and get revenge,” said Freeport senior libero Claire Crytzer.The Yellowjackets lost in five sets to the Bobcats in the WPIAL title match. “I can't even describe how I feel right now. It's amazing.”
Freeport's defense was amazing, especially against Beaver's 6-foot standout Macy McElhaney. The senior did get her kills — 22 of them — but she was also blocked eight times.
Sarah Hettich, a 6-2 junior, had six blocks against McElhaney. Hannah Mason and Ally DeJidas were also huge at the net, both on the block and on the attack.
The Yellowjackets triple-blocked McElhaney, something Freeport coach Tom Phillips is usually dead against.
Extreme circumstances require extreme measures.
“I put in a lot of film hours,” Phillips said. “We changed our rotation completely. I was afraid because it was such a drastic change, but it worked. I'm not a big proponent of triple-blocking because you leave so much ground for your back row to cover. But Macy is such an amazing player.”
And Freeport has an amazing back row led by Crytzer.
The Yellowjackets made Beaver earn every kill and point and frustrated the Bobcats on the way to a 2-0 lead.
“We were not going to let the ball hit the floor without a 110-percent effort,” Crytzer said. “We all really wanted this.”
“I can't say enough about Claire,” Phillips said. “She's the glue that holds us together. She was stellar tonight.”
Beaver, though, opened the third game with a 14-3 lead. Freeport battled back, cutting the lead to 21-18, but couldn't complete the rally.
What the effort did, however, was give the Yellowjackets momentum heading into the fourth game.
Mason had four straight kills to end the game and the match.
And send Freeport to its first appearance in the state final — for any team In school history.
The Yellowjackets will play Delone Catholic at 1 p.m. Saturday at Richland High School.
“It's a dream come true,” Crytzer said. “Coach told us (Monday) at practice that he's always dreamed of going to the state championship. Making one of his dreams come true is something I'll never forget.”
