Saint Viator runs on all cylinders in win over Prospect
St. Viator senior outside hitter Marie Torosian, one of four captains for the girls volleyball team, emphasized one subject following her team's season opener on Wednesday.
"We've been working for this for weeks," she said. "Especially in the summer months. We've been working hard to fine-tune everything."
After a hard-fought win in Set 1, the Lions looked like an especially fine-tuned machine in Set 2 as they put away a 25-23, 25-9 nonconference triumph over visiting Prospect at the Cahill Gymnasium.
Torosian's fourth kill of the match, off a set from classmate Cailyn Harrington, was the final point in the nonconference match in Arlington Heights. It was also Torosian's big service run of 7 straight points, capped by an ace, that allowed the Lions to take charge 9-3 in the second set.
"There was a little pressure in the first set of the season and we just told ourselves we can't give up and we have to keep going in the second set," Torosian added. "I was happy to see it all come together."
As was veteran Lions coach Charlie Curtin.
"Their goals are extremely high this season," said Curtin, whose team returns many players from an 8-8 squad (8-0 in nonconference play) last spring. "And they know what it takes to get to that next level. It was fun to see, especially in the second set when they came out and kind of took care of business in all facets of the game."
Seniors Lauren Allaire and Davenport University (Grand Rapids, MI) recruit Lilly LaFleur each had 6 kills while Harrington dished out 21 assists. They are the Lions' other three co-captains.
Junior libero Reanne Valera was all over the floor, picking up 12 digs.
"Reanne is an unbelievable defensive libero," Curtin added of the 5-foot-7 junior, who was 9-of-9 serving. "She doesn't let much hit the floor and is willing to put her body on the line for anything."
Collecting 2 digs apiece for the Lions were Ella Trieloff, a Maine South transfer, Marcelina Gorny and Mia Parise. Mary Grace Lynch and Allaire each had 6 digs. LaFleur and Lynch (10-of-10 serving) recorded a pair of aces.
The first set was tied 11 times, including eight times after it was 14-14.
With a service point from Shelby Hiskes resulting in Alex Uemura's kill, the Knights (0-2) edged ahead 20-19.
Prospect took a 22-21 lead on another kill by Uemura before the Lions scored the next 3 points, getting 2 service points from Valera in between timeouts by Prospect coach Laura Gerber.
A kill by Lauren Wiley got Prospect to within 24-23 before LaFleur put down the set winner.
Kaela Salehzadeh had a couple of big solo blocks for Prospect.
"We came out strong and played well in the first set," said Gerber, whose team lost its opener in two sets to visiting Niles West. "We were communicating as a team but in the second set we came out a little flat. We struggled with serve and just couldn't block. We stopped talking and when you do that, it really makes it tough to pull it out.
"We are a work in progress. It always takes us a little while to get started but once we do, we'll find our rhythm and we'll be fine. It will just take a little bit of time. We'll get there."