PIAA names Freeport’s Phillips Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year for 2022

By: Michael Love
Sunday, October 15, 2023 | 7:29 PM

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The Freeport girls volleyball team continued the storied tradition of the program in 2022, winning its 18th straight section title, its seventh WPIAL title since 2010, and the second state championship (2017) in school history.

Yellowjackets head coach Tom Phillips said many people had a hand in making last season possible, from the boosters and parents to the administration, the players and his assistant coaches.

The success of last year’s team was recognized Friday by the PIAA as it selected Phillips as the 2022 National Federation of High School’s Pennsylvania Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year.

“This is quite an honor,” said Phillips, who now is eligible for sectional and national coaching awards.

“The PIAA, that is the whole state, and there are so many great teams with terrific coaches. I had received word yesterday, and I was taken aback, for sure.

“There’s that old motto, ‘It takes a village,’ and that is so true in this case. I do what I can to help our teams succeed each year, but I certainly don’t do it alone. I’ve been blessed over the past 23 years of coaching Freeport volleyball to have some amazing and dedicated assistant coaches, and the players certainly play into that. You have to have that support system, and I definitely have it here. When your program is established, year in and year out, so many people want to step up and make sure it keeps going.”

Freeport went undefeated in Section 5-2A last year and earned the No. 1 seed for the Class 2A playoffs.

The Yellowjackets swept OLSH in the first round, Neshannock in the quarterfinals and Quaker Valley in the semifinals before topping Shenango, 3-1, in the championship game at Robert Morris University.

Then it was on to the state tournament, where Freeport topped District 10’s Corry in the first round and Quaker Valley again in the quarterfinals before winning a five-set classic against District 6 champion Philipsburg-Osceola.

Freeport then brought home the state-title trophy with a 3-0 sweep of York Catholic at Cumberland Valley High School.

“Last season was magical,” Phillips said.

“We extended the wonderful run of section titles, but the girls weren’t satisfied and went after another WPIAL title. Then it was on to states, and the girls didn’t waver at all. They played at a high level. It was so special to see them come together like they did.”

Phillips said 2022 was a special year with, among other things, induction into the Armstrong County and Alle-Kiski Valley sports halls of fame, his Yellowjackets team reaching the heights it did at the WPIAL and state levels, and closing the year with the opportunity to coach in the first-ever We Serve First all-star girls volleyball event at Kiski Area High School.

“To me, this (coach of the year award) is the cherry on top,” Phillips said. “Now, to be eligible for national coach of the year, when you look at it all and put it in perspective, it is a pretty astounding feeling.”

The 2023 Freeport team doesn’t seem to be slowing down, currently sitting atop Class 2A.

The Yellowjackets (14-1, 12-0) can clinch the outright Section 5-2A title, their 19th, with a win Tuesday against Ligonier Valley.

Freeport visits Class 3A Mars in nonsection play Monday and closes out the section with a home matchup against rival Burrell (13-2, 10-2) on Thursday.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Freeport