JEFFERSON TWP — The Knoch and Freeport volleyball teams have combined to win 70 matches and a pair of PIAA championships over the last 11 months.

It's a rivalry steeped in tradition and familiarity: Knoch coach Diane Geist still lives in Freeport and is a graduate of the school. Yellowjackets coach Tom Phillips coaches several Knoch players on his AAU team.

When the two teams meet, its special, as it was at Knoch Wednesday night.

The Knights (14-0) overcame a 7-3 deficit in the first set to win and then put their dominance on full display in a 25-14, 25-21, 25-14 win over an injury-depleted Freeport team.

“We wanted to put them away as fast as we could,” said junior Skylar Burkett.

But it was Freeport (11-2), the defending 2A champs that jumped out quickly before Knoch, the sitting 3A crown holders, settled down.

A big turning point came after Knoch had taken a 13-11 lead in the first set when Yellowjackets middle hitter Sarah Hettich injured her ankle.

Knoch rolled off 12 of the next 15 points to win the first game and cruised after that.

“We battled,” Phillips said. “When Sarah goes down, you have to change things. We hung in there and played tough. The size factor was a big thing.”

After Hettich went down, Phillips had to shuffle his lineup, including putting MacKensey Jack at middle hitter. Jack hasn't played that position since middle school.

Freeport was also playing without Tori Radvan, who tore her ACL and is out for the season, and Haley Graham, who was just cleared to play, but hadn't practiced yet.

“They were pretty much out of middles,” Geist said. “That impacted them a lot. They still gave us a game. More power to Freeport for playing tough the whole way through.”

Freeport was going to be challenged by Knoch even with a healthy roster.

The Knights made very few errors and received stellar matches from Burkett, Hannah Rowe, Kennedy Christy and Kerrie Fitzpatrick.

Burkett had nine kills and 18 digs; Christy 19 kills and four aces; Rowe 15 kills and 21 digs and Fitzpatrick 40 assists for Knoch.

Ally DeJidas had 12 kills for Freeport.

“They turned it on a little bit more tonight because they knew they had to,” Geist said. “This is Hannah's first year in the back row and Skylar's first year in the back row, too, and it's pretty nice to rely on them to get to everything.”

And Christy put most everything else away.

Knoch has now won 38 straight matches. The Knights were 24-0 during their state championship season in 2017.

This year, Knoch has handled the pressure of the winning streak well.

“It's nice to have that target on our backs,” Rowe said. “It pushes us even harder and it pushes other teams harder and makes for a better match.

“It's harder to stay on top than it is to get to the top.”

Geist has purposely not mentioned the streak.

“Honestly, I'm not a numbers person,” Geist said. “I don't think about those things and I don't emphasize those things. We just look ahead to the next match and see what we can do.”

For Freeport, the main goal going forward is getting healthy.

Graham is expected back soon and fingers are crossed about the Hettich injury.

Freeport now has two losses this season — both to defending state champions. The Yellowjackets fell to North Allegheny, the 4A champ, in the season opener.

“Hopefully it won't be a lengthy thing for Sarah because we need her on the long haul,” Phillips said. “Tonight was a great crowd and a great playoff atmosphere and that's what you want to see.”