Yellowjackets bask in volleyball success
FREEPORT — The Freeport volleyball team has a cult following.
Fans flock to their matches dressed in the blue and yellow school colors. They jump. They scream. They chant. They treat it like it's the biggest event in school history.
They even sing the national anthem before a WPIAL semifinal volleyball match — and the crowd and players stand, face the flag and put their hands over their hearts.
It seems Freeport has it all on the volleyball court. That wasn't the case until this season.
The Yellowjackets have posted a 50-3 record over the last three seasons, but this is the first season Freeport has advanced to the PIAA tournament.
"It feels great," said senior do-everything player Madison Rotto. "It's our senior year and we were finally able to do it."
Rotto is one of four seniors who desperately wanted to experience the state playoffs. Losses in the quarterfinals the last two years torpedoed that opportunity despite stellar regular seasons and section titles.
Rotto, Carlie Bieranowski, Ashley Massart and Alyssa Vigliotti all felt the sting of those near misses and were determined not to feel it again.
A 3-1 win last week over Hopewell in the quarterfinals secured a spot in the state tournament for the Yellowjackets.
"This makes it all worth it," Bieranowski said. "This was our main goal this year, and now that we have accomplished it, it takes a lot of the pressure off of us."
Freeport went on to defeat Mars 3-1 in the semifinals before losing to defending WPIAL Class AA champion West Allegheny 3-0 Saturday.
Still, the Yellowjackets are in the state playoffs. They face Punxsutawney at 7:30 p.m. today at DuBois High in their first taste of state competition.
"I'm really, really proud of these girls," said Freeport coach Tom Phillips. "They worked really hard to get to where they are right now. It's a tremendous feeling. That was one of the goals we set early in the season: to get to states, to get over the hurdle for the last four or five years."
Determination was a big reason why the Yellowjackets were able to break through. Team unity also played a factor, Rotto said.
"We had no conflicts as a team," Rotto said. "And the starters have played together for so long, and we know each other so well,. We know how to cheer each other up when we are down. We know what each other is thinking."
Talent certainly helps.
Bieranowski is one of the top players in the state with her ability at the net. Rotto is an all-around threat — a lethal hitter who also possesses the skill to set, block and dig. Massart also is an all-around star, but her ability to block has been a big reason for the Yellowjackets' success.
Massart had 11 blocks against Mars Thursday.
And Vigliotti is a feisty player who isn't afraid to hit the floor to keep the ball from doing the same.
But getting to the state tournament isn't the ultimate goal for this tenacious group.
"We want to go way farther than just getting to the state playoffs," Bieranowski said. "We want to do well when we are there."
