PIAA girls volleyball playoff preview capsules: Knoch vs. Warren, Freeport vs. Bald Eagle

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 12, 2018 | 9:45 PM

Girls volleyball

Class AAA

Semifinals

Knoch (24-0) vs. Warren (20-0)

7 p.m. Tuesday at Clarion Area High School

Winner plays: Winner of Allentown Central Catholic/West York

Coaches: Diane Geist, Knoch; Mike Dolan, Warren

Players to watch: Skye Burkett, Knoch; Lydia Latimer, Warren

Service points: Defending PIAA champion Knoch continued its postseason run with a workmanlike 3-0 sweep of District 3’s Dover in the quarterfinals. Burkett recorded 12 kills and three aces for Knoch, which won 25-12, 25-22, 25-14. It was the 48th victory in a row for Knoch, which starts just one senior in setter Kerrie Fitzpatrick. A trio of junior hitters — Burkett, Kennedy Christy and Hannah Rowe — pace the Knights offense. The team has dropped four sets all season. Warren won its first-ever District 10 championship this fall and is seeking to take down a WPIAL opponent for the third consecutive match. The Dragons defeated Central Valley in the PIAA first round and Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. Latimer, a senior middle hitter, is the team’s leading offensive threat. She was named all-state as a sophomore and junior.

Class AA

Semifinals

Freeport (18-3) vs. Bald Eagle (21-0)

5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Clarion Area High School

Winner plays: Winner of Holy Redeemer/Delone Catholic

Coaches: Tom Phillips, Freeport; Larry Campbell, Bald Eagle

Players to watch: Lauren Lampus, Freeport; Grace Hugar, Bald Eagle

Service points: The teams meet in the state playoffs for the second consecutive season; Freeport beat Bald Eagle, 3-0, in the 2017 PIAA first round. Defending PIAA champion Freeport advanced to the state semifinals for the second consecutive season by beating North Catholic, 3-2, in the quarterfinals. The Yellowjackets, the last remaining WPIAL team in the Class AA bracket despite entering as the fourth seed, are looking to match their postseason accomplishment from a year ago, when they won the state title after not winning the WPIAL title. Lampus, a junior, had 16 kills against North Catholic, and Ally DeJidas added 13. Bald Eagle won its second consecutive District 6 championship this fall and is appearing in the state semifinals for the first time. The Eagles beat Serra Catholic in the first round and Corry in the quarterfinals. Hugar, a junior outside hitter, had 14 kills in the win over Corry. She was an all-state selection last season.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Freeport, Knoch