Victory is served: Frazier’s serve game, balanced attack too much for Clarion
WEXFORD – Frazier rolled the dice in its game plan against Clarion.
Lady Commodores coach Mandy Hartman advised her team to go all out in its serve game and hope for the best in Saturday’s PIAA girls volleyball Class A quarterfinal match at North Allegheny’s UPMC Court.
Her players did so and in the end the strategy paid off with a 3-0 sweep for Frazier over the District 9 champion Lady Bobcats and propelled it to the state final four for the first time in program history.
Addison Hiles led the way with 13 service points and Gracen Hartman followed with nine and the Lady Commodores (17-4) were also buoyed by a balanced attack up front sparked by Maddie Salisbury’s 12 kills as Frazier rolled to victory by scores of 25-13, 25-20 and 25-15.
The win sets up a rematch of the WPIAL final on Tuesday with Greensburg Central Catholic, which swept District 6 champion West Branch, 3-0. The Lady Centurions, who lost to Frazier twice during the regular season in Section 4 play, demolished the Lady Commodores in the district final, 3-0.
Frazier welcomes the rematch with GCC.
“When the last point went in I was really excited and right away thought we’re ready to play GCC again,” Salisbury said. “I think it really motivated us, losing that WPIAL championship game. I’ve honestly never seen us play this good.”
Mandy Hartman mapped out the best path to success against Clarion to her players during its preparation.
“I told them before the match, we’re gambling. We’re serving as hard as we can,” Hartman said. “We’re being aggressive. If we miss a little bit more than usual I think the benefits can out-weigh the cost. It all worked out for us.”
Did it ever.
Frazier rang up seven service aces in the first set, including two in a row by Grace Vaughn that gave her team a quick 3-0 lead. Salisbury followed a kill with three consecutive service aces that put the Lady Commodores ahead 11-3 and they never looked back.
“Once we started getting our serves in I could tell it was giving them a lot of problems,” Salisbury said. “We work on our serves a lot. We take a lot of pride in how good our team is serving-wise.”
Hiles added an ace to make it 21-10 and, fittingly, Allie Monack’s ace finished off the first set.
“To get those big points early and get that first set under our belt I think really set the tone for the match,” Hartman said.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-StandardFrazier’s girls volleyball team poses for a photo after defeating Clarion, 3-0, in Saturday’s PIAA Class A quarterfinal match at North Allgheny’s UPMC Court.
“We were consistent. The girls did a great job. They’re executing game plans really well. We knew we had to keep their big hitters uncomfortable. They have No. 3 (Marley Kline) who’s a stud and as soon as she goes to the back row you have to face No. 22 (Hadlee Campbell). We really tried to keep them off-balance with our serves.”
Clarion coach Shari Campbell felt that was the determining factor in her team’s loss.
“I really feel like their serving was key,” said Campbell, who guided Clarion to PIAA titles in 2020 and 2021. “We got rattled because our serve-receive wasn’t there. We had a hard time getting balls to (her daughter) Hadlee and Marley.
“They’re a great team. They’re a strong team.”
Hartman has great respect for Campbell and the Lady Bobcats (13-5).
“We knew what we were going up against tonight,” she said. “Clarion is a perennial powerhouse. They’re very well coached. She’s been here as long as I’ve been here.”
Clarion regrouped and tried to battle back in a back-and-forth second set that had 12 ties and nine lead changes. With the score knotted at 16-16, Frazier took four of the next five points and led the rest of the way. Vaughn had two late kills and her return resulted in a Clarion error that closed out the second set.
The Lady Bobcats, desperate to extend the match, fought hard in the third set but Frazier used an eight-point run to turn a slim 10-9 lead into a comfortable 18-9 advantage. Gracen Hartman recorded seven service points with an ace during the pivotal burst which also included a kill by Vaughn and three by Salisbury, the second of which came after an outstanding deep save by Hiles.
A Monack kill put the score at 24-12. Clarion fought off two match points before Addison Schultz buried a kill to end it.
“It feels really awesome,” Salisbury said of reaching the state semifinals. “I’m really excited.”
Following Salisbury for Frazier in kills were Monack with 10, Vaughn with eight and Schultz with seven.
“For a Class A school, that’s our greatest strength,” Hartman said. “Most Class A teams don’t have the luxury of all those girls who can put the ball down at any point in time. Honestly I really don’t even tell my setter (daughter Gracen Hartman) where to put the ball. It’s totally in her hands, pick one.
“It’s been a great ride. I think the serving and the balanced offense, that’s why we’re in the position we’re in right now.”
Kline wound up with 14 kills and Campbell had seven for the Lady Bobcats (13-5).
Gracen Hartman had 22 assists for the Lady Commodores who also got 12 digs from Hiles, eight digs from Grace Polkabla, five blocks from Schultz and three blocks from Salisbury.
Mandy Hartman commended her team for stepping up during the PIAA tournament.
“It’s do-or-die time and I don’t think any of these girls on this team are ready to turn in their uniforms,” she said. “They’re so driven. They all had breakfast together. It’s the tightest group I’ve ever had. I think that says a lot about them and why they’re still going strong. They’re pushing me. I’m twice their age and this is the longest season I’ve coached.
“Not that I’m complaining.”