JACKSON TWP — If it weren't for their opponents, Seton-LaSalle volleyball coach Ray Bobak doesn't believe his team would get the respect it deserves.

The Rebels placed fifth in the PIAA playoffs last year and lost just one player.

Still, he believes they have to keep proving themselves.

On Tuesday, the Rebels swept Mars 25-17, 25-18, 25-18 in WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal playoff action at Seneca Valley High School.

"These girls all play (Junior Olympics) together and know each other. They've played the last two years together," said Bobak.

"They get no acknowledgement. Not even the school acknowledged us for our accomplishment."

"They were on their game all the way around and they never let up," said Mars coach Karen Martini on the Rebels. "They didn't stop the whole time, right off the bat.

"They're an experienced team and they played very well," Martini added.

With the first game tied at 4, the Rebels (16-1) scored five consecutive points, the final four off service points by Jillian Krywicki.

Mars (20-2) got as close as three points, 15-12, but couldn't overcome the Rebels.

In Game 2, Seton-LaSalle scored the first point, but Mars responded with the next two for a 2-1 lead. It would prove to be the Planets' only lead of the night.

Leading 6-5, the Rebels again scored five consecutive points to open up a six-point lead. Mars eventually whittled down the deficit to three points (13-10) but as Seton-LaSalle had done before, it scored eight of the next 11 to pull away.

In the third game, Mars fell behind 19-7, capped by an 8-1 run, including the final six points in succession.

Mars made a gallant charge, scoring the next four points and getting as close as six points at 23-17, but the Rebels scored two of the final three points to end the match.

Despite repeated efforts by the Planets to cut into the deficit, they never overcome the Rebels' early advantages.

"I said to the team, 'In playoff games, you can't do that,'" said Martini. "In the regular season, you can't do that either, but in the playoffs it's tougher. You have to go point for point."

The Rebels will face West Allegheny, a 3-0 winner over Derry, in the semifinals. They're hoping that's just another stop in their quest for a title.

"Actually, these kids don't want to stop playing," said Bobak.

The loss, however, does not diminish what the Planets achieved this season.

The 20 wins were the most in the program's history. The team also went 12-0 for the section title and won its first playoff match when it beat Beaver 3-0 last Thursday.

The game was the last for seniors Lacee Beitler, Kelly Berry, Jordan Bossong, Amy Brooks, Meghan Kosar, Brooke Davidson and Jessica Schroeder.

"I told the team they had the best season Mars ever had," said Martini. "They have nothing to hang their heads about and they should hold their head high.

"We won a playoff series this year and now we have a little more experience for next year."

In another WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal game, the Eagles swept the Yellowjackets at Plum High School Tuesday.The loss was Freeport's first of the season after winning its first 19 contests.No other information was available.