WEXFORD — Kristie Radvan never doubted it.

Even though there were plenty of reasons to wonder.

“Not for a minute,” Radvan said, wiping tears of joy from her ruddy cheeks. “I honestly had no worries. We came together as a team and not one time did I think we were going to lose.”

Even down to match point and facing a sudden and disappointing loss in the fourth set.

Even trailing 13-10 in the fifth set.

Freeport weathered the Avonworth storm and rallied from 2-1 down for a dramatic 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 28-26, 15-13 victory in the WPIAL Class AA semifinals Thursday night at North Allegheny High School.

“That one,” said Freeport coach Tom Phillips, “took a couple of years off my life.”

After dominating the first set and half of the second, Freeport found itself in a tussle with Avonworth.

Things turned particularly grim after the Yellowjackets let a 24-21 lead slip away in the fourth set and faced elimination, down 25-24.

But Maddie Christy got a clutch kill and Radvan won the next point with a block to give Freeport a chance to exhale.

Hannah Mason then got a kill and an ace to pull out the set, 28-26.

Avonworth coach Doug Vandervort saw that as the turning point.

“Freeport doesn't quit,” Vandervort said. “They play great defense. You have to put the ball away.

“That's the best we've played all year,” Vandervort added. “I'm disappointed we lost, but we can't play much better.”

Erin Williams had 16 kills for Avonworth, but when she wasn't on the floor, the Antelopes' offense struggled.

Meanwhile, Freeport used a total team effort to tip the scales to their benefit.

Katie Zingaro had 13 kills and 14 blocks; Jenna Manke had 14 kills; Hannah Mason had 10 kills; Radvan had four kills and 10 blocks; and Abree Cowan and Claire Crytzer each had 10 digs.

“We stayed with it and believed in each other,” Phillips said. “We kept our noses to the grindstone. We kept looking at the scoreboard and I told them to quit looking at the darn scoreboard and let's play like we know how to play.”

Freeport did and will take on Beaver at 2 p.m. Saturday at Baldwin in the WPIAL final with a chance to defend its crown.

To Radvan, nothing would be better.

“It's unbelievable. I have no words,” Radvan said. “Coach singled out the seniors and told us it's your season. If you want it, you have to make sure you take it and go to the WPIAL championships.”

Radvan paused and pumped her fists.

“And we're doing it!”