Energized Wheeling takes 2nd at Prospect

With the Wheeling girls volleyball team, it's all about energy.

Just like they did in a Mid-Suburban East match on Tuesday against Prospect, the Wildcats found the extra push again in the final two games against the Knights on Saturday.

Wheeling's 15-25, 25-20, 15-6 victory over the hosts of the 29th annual Prospect Invite gave the Wildcats second place with a 4-1 record while the Knights were third at 3-2.

Just four days earlier, the Wildcats also dropped Game 1 and came back for the win against Prospect.

"Today, it was matter of energy," said Wildcats coach Jason Kopkowski, whose team is now 13-5. "We knew whatever team at the end of the day had more energy would be victorious."

"We just didn't have that energy in Game 1," said Wildcats senior outside hitter Sarah Hennessy, who had 10 kills in the Wildcats five matches Saturday. "We realized we had to pick it up in game 2."

Wheeling broke out to an 8-3 lead in Game 2 when after a block by Kayla Jordan and kill by setter Stephanie Fuchs, who collected 71 assist for the day from 201 sets.

The Wildcats were never seriously threatened again and they kept the momentum into Game 3 when 4 straight service points by Fuchs (13 aces for the tourney) put them ahead 5-0.

Early in Game 1, Fuchs suffered a bloody nose and after a brief time on the bench, she came back on the floor to compete the job,"

"Stephanie is a gamer," Kopkowski said of his senior quarterback.

Taylor Schroeder capped of the match by serving for the final 3 points.

For the tourney, Taylor Jordan led the Wildcats' attack with 24 kills, followed Kellie Kuzmanic (22), Syndey Keith (11).

Annette Gorzelany sparked the Wildcats' back row with 38 digs while Jordan had 29 and Fuchs 26.

Prospect (9-8, 3-2) hosts MSL East leader Hersey (16-3, 5-0 Tuesday).

"We had flashes of brilliance," said Knights coach Mike Riedy, whose team is 9-8. "I was really pleased with Sarah Hunt's play and then work of our setters (Danielle Siwik and Shea Gallus).

"But we have a lot of work to do."

Hunt's stellar work on Saturday consisted of 47 kills, 15 aces, 21 digs and 6 blocks while Gallus (147 sets) Siwik (126 sets) each collected 47 assists.

Riedy was surrounded by familiar faces as his former standout player Jenny Lachman serves as an assistant coach for Libertyville and two of his former boys players were also involved in the invite.

Krystian Krzyzak worked as an official and Don Gramola was on hand as a scout for the Ohio State University women's staff.

Another Prospect connection was former Knights basketball standout Tom Bergen, a member of a University of Michigan basketball team that played for a national title, was filling as the varsity coach for Lake Park.

Palatine, which finished the week with eight matches in six days, finished at 2-2.

Libertyville coach Greg Loika, whose 15-0 Wildcats won the tourney (5-0), felt the Pirates gave his team its toughest challenge (25-19, 25-23).

"They had a huge lead in Game 2," he said. "It was a pretty good test of our emotional fortitude to come back."

Senior Kaley Sierawski earned all-tourney honors the Pirates, who are now 9-10.

"We weren't ready to go in our first match (25-15, 25-19 loss to Wheeling) and that kind of put us in a hole," said Pirates coach Dan Gavin. "Wheeling came out ready to play with a purpose and passion. It took us some time to wake up. You try to avoid playing so many matches in a week because obviously it can wear on you."

Completing the rest of the all-tourney team were Hunt, Fuchs, Kuzmanic, Patrycja Wardynski (Maine East), Alexis Hahn (Lake Park), Kristen Webb (Libertyville) and Cindy Zhou (Libertyville).