Parkland, Freedom victories in 4A highlight semis
Not only was Parkland and Freedom on different sides of the District 11 Class 4A bracket, but were also at opposite ends of the spectrum when they hit the volleyball court in their respective semifinals.
While the Trojans are favored to win their eighth-straight title, the Patriots are on a quest to claim their first since 2003.
As part of a doubleheader at Catasauqua High School on Thursday evening, the two teams overcame challenging tests from highly touted opponents, as both earned victories and remained on a collision course in next week’s final.
The top-seeded Trojans led off the 4A semifinals with a victory over an energized and determined Liberty team, 3-1 [25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 25-18]. In the nightcap, the second-seeded Patriots impressed by avenging a loss in last week’s Eastern Pennsylvania Conference tournament by knocking off Emmaus, also 3-1 [22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20].
Parkland vs. Liberty
Heading into the semifinal round, the Trojans lost just one set the entire season. And after running away about halfway through the first set against the Hurricanes, it appeared Parkland was on its way to another sweep.
But Liberty stood tall and would not back down from the Goliath of District 11 girls volleyball. In fact, the Hurricanes went up early in the second set and was able to maintain a relatively comfortable lead to stun the Trojans by tying the match at one set apiece.
Liberty went up 6-3 in the third set, and after Parkland coach Mike Krause burned a muchneeded timeout, the Trojans settled down and made proper adjustments to halt the Hurricanes’ momentum.
An 11-2 run helped ignite a furious rally on Parkland’s side, and despite a valiant Hurricanes effort late in the match, the Trojans would never look back.
Sophomore Maggie Smith registered a whopping 52 assists throughout the match, passing the ball to the big hitters on the team. Elena Pursell led the offense with 17 kills, followed by Brynn Dreisbach’s 14 kills, Sydney Esquieres’s 11 kills and Allison Reimer’s 10 kills.
Scarlett Jago led Parkland’s defensive effort with 29 digs, while Dreisbach (22 digs), Meredith Steurer (12 digs), and Smith (9 digs) also contributed.
“Liberty played awesome and we could’ve folded after that second set,” Krause said. “This is what championship volleyball is all about. [Liberty coach] Connor [Swigart] has his team playing so hard, you could hear their energy. We knew we had to match their fight.”
In the end, Parkland got just what it needed at this point in the postseason: a true test. Not only did the players respond to the call, but they gained valuable knowledge for upcoming obstacles, which includes next week’s district final.
As for Liberty, Swigart is proud of his team’s effort against one of the top teams in the state. He believes this season will only serve his team well in the future. The Hurricanes received strong efforts from a mix of players, many of whom will return next year.
Junior Sydney Houchens led Liberty with 15 kills and 21 digs, while seniors Brylee Tereska (10 kills, 12 digs) and Ayana Bomani (5 kills) provided a big boost for the Hurricanes. Sophomore Lora Flynn finished with 32 assists and 10 digs, and junior Courtney Shire had 25 digs.
“Parkland is well-coached and I felt we were within grasp,” Swigart said. “When Parkland wins the first set, they usually run away with it, but we didn’t go away. That says we can hang with anybody. Sometimes the girls just need to see it to believe it. When we’re healthy and we are right, we can beat anybody. Now, we will commit to putting in the work in the offseason.”
Freedom vs. Emmaus
Freedom remembers last year’s five-set heartbreaker in the district semifinals.
In that match, the Patriots were just one set away from defeating the juggernaut that is Parkland. Just one set away from a district finals appearance.
Though the team fell short, they used the loss as a driving force this season, and it has served them well.
Fast forward to Thursday’s semifinal with Emmaus, and it was apparent the Patriots were ready to take the next step.
Backed by strong efforts from its senior class, Freedom stormed back from a set down to knock off the defending district runner-up Green Hornets, earning a spot in next week’s championship match.
When Emmaus zoned in on one of Freedom’s top players, Alaina Roman, the Patriots decided to feed their other big hitter, Liz Barnes.
Barnes stepped up in a huge
way, covering the court on offense and defense. The senior blasted 21 kills. She also led the team in digs with 20.
Classmates Roman (7 kills, 19 digs), Grace Hercik (8 kills, 17 digs), Sam Simmers (16 digs, 35 assists) and Isabel Rodriguez (13 service points) all provided a huge spark for the Patriots throughout the match.
“I don’t know that I could be any prouder,” Freedom coach Donna Roman said. “The seniors have meant so much to the team over the years. I think tonight, we played as a unit, and when we switched our go-to hitter in Liz Barnes, she was the momentum changer. She put so many balls down.
“Something we’ve talked about is bravery and fear. They are the same emotion, but it’s how you handle each that defines who you are. And I think that sentiment spoke to Liz tonight. She was the one who handled those emotions and stepped up.”
On the Green Hornets’ side of the court, the team had to deal with the loss of one of its star players in Ava Holden, who suffered a shoulder injury during the EPC tournament last week.
Emmaus still played loose and battled the Patriots close in the final three sets. Seniors Mia Pickering and Lily Hulbert provided balance to the Green Hornet attack, but the team was slightly overmatched.
“We went in knowing we didn’t have Ava, but also knew that adversity happens,” Emmaus coach Brianne Giangiobbe said. “Every girl I put on the court stepped up and I’m proud of them. It’s obviously not the outcome we wanted. I can honestly say this is the best group of girls I’ve coached. I think these girls have changed the culture for the better and the level of dedication. Not necessarily in terms of wins and losses, but I feel we were successful in so many other aspects.”
Next up, the Trojans and Patriots will go to battle in the 4A finals on Wednesday, also at Catasauqua High School.
In other district playoff action
In 3A, third-seeded Bethlehem Catholic, last year’s PIAA champion, shut out second-seeded Southern Lehigh to advance to the championship match. The Golden Hawks will take on top-seeded Pottsville, which edged No. 4 Blue Mountain, 3-2.
In 2A, second-seeded Central Catholic held on for a 3-2 win over Panther Valley. Next up for the Vikings is the championship match against top-seeded Pine Grove, a 3-1 winner over Notre Dame-Green Pond.
In Class A, Marian Catholic and Nativity BVM both advanced to the finals with shutout victories. The top-seeded Fillies defeated Mahanoy Area, while the third-seeded Golden Girls knocked off Tri-Valley.
All finals will be played on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.