Boys Volleyball – Hornets quest for a third consecutive District XI Title begins Thursday as they travel to Freedom with revenge on their minds. (PREVIEW):

Senior Bryce Diehl and the Hornets open up the District XI playoffs on Thursday travelling to Freedom. Emmaus will be out for revenge after falling to the Pates earlier this season. Photo: Robert Thompson

What: District XI Tournament


Who: No.5 seed Emmaus (12-5) vs No.4 seed Freedom (18-3)


When/where: Thursday 6 p.m./Freedom HS


Coverage: Twitter (@Emmaussports.com & @EmmausBoysVBall)


What’s on line: A berth in the semifinals next Tuesday vs winner of No.1 Whitehall/No.8 Nazareth


Coaches: Emmaus – Ken Dunkle (5th season), Freedom – Joe Yanek


Head-to-head matchup: Freedom won 3-1 @ Emmaus on April 23


Emmaus history in districts: Won titles in 2018, 2017, 2013, ’12, ’11, ’99, ’98 and ’94 ….finished runner-up in ’15, ’14, ’08 and ’02


Key players: Emmaus – Sr. L Harrison Dottery, Sr. MH Owen Kennedy, Sr. MH Mark Swedberg, Sr. MH/OPP Bryce Diehl, Soph. S Gannon DeFrain, Jr. MH Miguel Abadilla, So. OH Nick Blose, Jr. MH/OPP Noah Szankovics, Sr. OH Stephen Reynolds (out with ACL injury)


Freedom – Sr. OH Brad Turocy, Jr. David Barnes, Jr. Thales Maciel, Jr. Ryan Crew, Soph. Dan Ramirez


District XI Tournament – Thursday

No.8 Nazareth @ No.1 Whitehall
No.7 Easton @ No.2 Delaware Valley
No.6 Liberty @ No.3 Parkland
No.5 Emmaus @ No. 4 Freedom

Semifinals – Tuesday, May 21 @ Catasauqua (5:30 & 7 pm)

Finals – Thursday, May 23 @ Catasauqua (7 pm)