Clutch points spark Freeport playoff win
CRANBERRY TWP — One service error, two service aces and Freeport was on its way to the semifinals.
That's what turned the Yellowjackets' WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinal volleyball match against Seton LaSalle Tuesday night at North Catholic High School.
Freeport (16-2) won the first game 25-21, leading that game throughout. But the second game was nip-and-tuck, the score tied on 11 occasions, the last time at 21-21.
Seton LaSalle committed a service error. Freeport senior Ally DeJidas responded with a pair of service aces and a 24-21 lead.
Outside hitter Mackensey Jack closed out the game with a kill for a 25-22 victory. The Yellowjackets won the third game, 25-19, to complete a closely-contested 3-0 sweep.
“They played us tough,” Freeport coach Tom Phillips said.”But we didn''t play our best game. I don't think we've played our best game yet.”
The Yellowjackets played without one of their best players — senior middle hitter Sarah Hettich — on Tuesday.
“She's nursing a double ankle sprain and we thought it best to hold her out,” Phillips said. “We feel like there's bigger fish to fry down the road and we want to get her healthy.
“Ally and Lauren (Lampus) took control of this match tonight. They were our leaders out there.”
DeJidas wound up with 12 kills, a block and eight service points. None were bigger than her consecutive aces late in the second game. The first one skimmed off the top of the net and dropped in.
“When I took the ball for those serves, I knew they were big,” DeJidas said. “We didn't want to go 1-1 with them. Once we won that second game ... It puts a team on its heels when it's down 2-0.”
The third game was tied seven times — the last at 13-13 — and the Rebels (12-5) had an 11-9 lead at one point. DeJidas struck again, notching a kill and two aces to help give Freeport a 13-11 edge.
“We feel pretty comfortable with Ally serving,” Phillips said. “Her serve percentage is 98 or close to it. She's very consistent.”
Lampus had two aces and two late kills in the third game. A block by DeJidas helped the Yellowjackets build as 24-19 lead.
The match-winning point came when Jack and Isabello Russo leaped up to block an attempted Seton LaSalle kill.
“We fought hard tonight against a very good team,” Rebels coach Amy O'Keefe said. “I'm very pleased with how well we played.
“They have a lot of experience and that makes a difference in a close match. We had a few unforced errors tonight and a team like Freeport knows how to capitalize on them.”
Freeport setter Madeline Clark had 32 assists and three kills. Jack had five kills, nine digs and seven service points.
Lampus produced 10 points, 11 kills and five digs. Erica Lampus had 13 digs.
Seton LaSalle was led by Jenni Pitts with 11 kills and Kate Radan with eight. The Rebels have reached the WPIAL quarterfinals four successive years.
Freeport faces the Deer Lakes-Frazier winner in the semifinals Thursday at a site and time to be determined.
“This win punches our ticket to the state tournament and that's important,” Phillips said.
DeJidas agreed.
“We definitely haven't put together our best game yet. But it's coming,” she said.
