Sports

ADAM ROBERTS aroberts@scrantonedition.com

For the past three years Abington Heights has squared off with Delaware Valley for the District 2 Class AAA volleyball title. After repeatedly falling short against the Warriors the Lady Comets rallied to win the championship 3-1 at North Pocono High School on Wednesday.

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Abington Heights senior Liz Jamison charges the net against Delaware Valley in the District 2 Class AAA championship, while her teammates Maggie Fruehan and Meghan Fraley look on.

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Maggie Fruehan led Abington Heights with 17 kills, 9 points and eight digs as the Lady Comets avenged an Oct. 26 loss to the Delaware Valley.

Emotion ran high as Lady Comets took the first game 26-24 and then lost the second 20-25.

“The number one thing is emotion,” Abington Heights coach Dan Phillips said. “We had it and we knew we could do it.”

In a back-and-forth game three the Lady Comets came out victorious 31-29, causing a massive momentum shift in their favor.

“Their emotion was low and ours skyrocketed,” said senior Meghan Fraley of game three. Abington Heights went on to win the final game 25-20.

The Lady had strong performances across the board, cementing them as the most physically gifted team that Phillips has ever coached.

Fraley ended with seven points, four digs and 35 assists. Liz Jamison added seven kills, 13 points and five aces.

Phillips said he saw an impressive effort from his entire team at the title game, but gave credit to Fruehan, Nichole Heil and Justine Leininger for their passing.

“That’s where it all starts from and the hitters use what they get,” Phillips said of his passers.

A win over Delaware Valley was long coming for the Lady Comets.

Both Fraley and Heil called the win unreal. While clutching the District 2 Championship plaque Fraley even joked she may sneak it home.

Heil said since she joined the team two years ago there was always an emphasis on defeating their volleyball rivals.

“We didn’t just say we need to beat them. We actually beat them,” said Heil who had five points, 11 digs and one assist.

The rivalry with Delaware Valley is one of respect for Phillips who said he looks up to Warriors’ coach Bridget Crawford. Even with his high opinion of their opponent Phillips said the victory was huge for his team.

The Lady Comets will begin state competition on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Their opponent and location of the game has not been announced