Frazier’s win sets up rematch with J-M
McDONALD – For one of the Section 5-A volleyball co-champions, the third time will be the charm. Frazier (12-1) assured that there will be a WPIAL quarterfinal rematch between the Lady Commodores and Jefferson-Morgan, with a 3-0 first round sweep of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (10-3) on Thursday at South Fayette High School. Aside from a brief deficit early in the first set, Frazier was in command against OLSH on the way to set wins of 25-18, 25-14 and 25-14.
Frazier coach Mandy Hartman said she was pleased with the Lady Commodores’ overall performance. “Any time you have a big match, the first game is crucial. We especially improved our serving game.”
OLSH coach Mike McDonald said his team’s undoing was in service errors and failure to have positive setting. “Our lack of serve reception has been our nemesis the whole second half of the season,” McDonald said. “We weren’t able to get into the flow, and spent most of the night trying to keep our heads above water. At no time did I feel that we were in the flow of the game.”
OLSH built a 5-3 lead in the opening set behind kills by Catherine Roseto and Lauren McDonald, and a service ace by Becky Christiansen.
But the first of 11 match service errors by the Chargers helped to give the momentum to Frazier. The Lady Commodores responded with a five-point run on a service ace by Gena Keebler, a kill by Amanda Pato and consecutive kills by Laurissa Ellis for a 9-5 lead.
OLSH never came closer than three points the rest of the way, the last time at 21-18 before kills by Ellis and Pato led a four-point run to close the set at 25-18.
Frazier jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set with Pato serving as Caitlin Fidel had a kill and Pato added a touch finish. The Chargers fought to within one point at 6-5 on Roseto’s kill, but five service errors kept OLSH from a serious challenge.
Frazier pulled from a 10-6 lead to a 15-6 margin on two aces by Giovanna Bitonti, a kill by Pato, and a net foul by OLSH.
The lead grew to 22-14 before a pair of aces by Amber Baughman helped close out the match.
Frazier broke from a 2-2 tie in the third set to leads of 6-2, 11-5, and 18-9. Late in the set, Pato had a kill and block point, Ellis a block point, and Fidel two kills, including the match winner at 25-14.
Pato, Keebler, and Fidel combined for 18 kills while Bitonti had 9 service points.
When asked about the early rematch with Jefferson-Morgan that will take place on Tuesday night, Hartman said, “We had two great matches at our place and their place. I’m sure it will draw a lot of people and will be great for volleyball.”