In a dramatic turnaround from their regular‑season loss, the Frazier Lady Commodores earned a place in the WPIAL girls volleyball final on Tuesday night. The third‑seeded team edged second‑seeded Fort Cherry 3‑2 in the Class 2A semifinal held at Peters Township High School’s AHN Arena.
Set scores were 26‑24, 20‑25, 18‑25, 25‑16 and 15‑11. Senior leader Allie Monack contributed 16 kills and 17 assists, delivering clutch plays that helped swing momentum in Frazier’s favor.
Coach’s perspective
Coach Mandy Hartman, who logged her 400th career win earlier this season, praised her players’ growth. “When you lose in the semifinals it’s heartbreaking. I equate it to Christmas Eve and then someone takes your Christmas Day away,” Hartman said, emphasizing the team’s determination to improve.
Hartman noted strategic adjustments after the third set, moving players like Morgan Fisher to new positions and altering the lineup to give the opposition a different look. Those changes paid off, as Frazier dominated the fourth set 25‑16 and carried the momentum into the decisive fifth set.
Key performances
Senior Mia West added 19 kills and 11 blocks, while senior Addison Hiles delivered a perfect service ace and contributed 20 digs and 10 service points. Freshman Anna Essington’s block kill helped start the final set’s run, and junior Fisher recorded 12 kills and 17 assists.
Monack highlighted the team’s overall improvement, saying, “We just improved in everything since that match—our blocking, serving, hitting, setting.” The Lady Commodores will face Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, another team they lost to during the regular season, in the championship match Saturday at 11 a.m. at the same arena.
Looking ahead
This marks Frazier’s fifth appearance in the WPIAL final and the third in six years. The program seeks its third district title after previous championships in 2009 and 2022. The Lady Rangers, who finished the season 17‑2, will compete for third place against Shenango before heading to the PIAA tournament.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
