'Jackets survive
Freeport is still unbeaten and is headed to the WPIAL Class AA volleyball semifinals — barely.
The Yellowjackets rallied to defeat Mars 3-2 in a quarterfinal match Tuesday night at Seneca Valley High School. Final scores of the games were 22-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-18, 16-14.
“This is the third time we've played them (in the playoffs) and they are always tough,” Freeport coach Tom Phillips said. “My hat is off to them.
“This was an emotional match tonight. We relied heavily on our three seniors and they came through.”
The Yellowjackets (19-0) received 15 service points and eight kills from Taylor Schrecengost, 13 service points and 43 digs from Jess McFadden and 42 assists from Lynsey Gugino.
“Lynsey's our senior setter. As she goes, we go,” Phillips said.
Ashley Sample had 11 service points and 10 kills, Lauren Frazetta nine kills and six blocks, sophomore Megan Sweeny 24 points and four aces.
“When we were up 2-1, I knew it'd still be a tough match,” Mars coach Dan Mountain said. “Freeport wasn't going to go away.
“Right down to the match-deciding point ... it was a volley back and forth for a while that could have gone either way.”
Jaden Zimmer had 18 kills for the Planets (14-4) while Emily King had five blocks, Lara Caraway 24 digs, Katie King three aces and 43 assists.
Freeport will face West Allegheny — a 3-1 winner over Knoch — in the semifinals.
“I'm proud of the effort our girls put up tonight. We played a great match against a great team,” Mountain said.
Freeport missed only four serves all night, good for a 97 percent accuracy rate.
“Our serving probably saved us,” Phillips said.
Girls SoccerKarns City 6, Brockway 1 — Emily Olczak scored three goals for the Gremlins (15-0-2), who advanced to the District 9 Class A championship game. Breann Wood, Kylie Loughery and Emily Lopresti added single tallies.Freshman Julianna Esposito scored for Brockway, the first goal allowed by KC netminder Emily Schumacher in 15 games this season.Karns City will face Curwensville in the district title game at 5 p.m. Thursday at Clarion University. The Gremlin boys face Brockway in the district title game at 7 p.m. at the same site.
Cross-CountryKarns City's Lacee Scheerbaum and Matt Slagle qualified for the PIAA Class AA Cross-Country Championships this weekend thanks to strong showings in the District 9 Class AA meet.Scheerbaum finished 15th out of 96 runners with a time of 22:49. Slagle took 18th of 115 competitors in the boys race in a time of 19:03.The state meet will be held Saturday at Parkview Cross-Country Course in Hershey. The girls Class AA race starts at 9:30 a.m., and the boys race begins at 11:30 a.m.
HockeyMars 9, Thomas Jefferson 5 — Austin Heakins scored six goals and added two assists as the Planets won their season opener at Warrendale Blade Runners.Joe Bender added a goal and three assists, Nick Blaney a goal and two assists, Max Masters a goal. Craig Mazzotta had a pair of assists.Mars plays Quaker Valley Thursday at the Airport Ice Arena.
North Allegheny 4, Seneca Valley 2 — Logan Rose and Casey Kramer each tallied a goal for the Raiders in this Class AAA contest.Brandon Wehner had two assists and Luke Reed and Rose one each for the Raiders, who fell behind the Tigers 3-0.
