Girls volleyball: Wheeling is believing, takes first in MSL East

Wheeling's girls volleyball team entered the Jean Walker Field House on Thursday coming off one of its biggest conference wins of all time.

It left as the only undefeated Mid-Suburban East team for the first time in coach Jason Kopkowski's nine seasons in charge.

Using a strong attack highlighted by senior Timber Terrell's 13 kills and relentless defense, sparked by Terrell and classmate Hala Fakhoury, the Wildcats prevailed 25-20, 25-19 over host Prospect.

Wheeling raised its record to 14-7 and 3-0, leading Hersey (7-4, 2-1) and Prospect (5-2, 2-1) by one match.

"That win (over 13-time defending East champ Hersey) gave us a lift but we are not satisfied," said Terrell, an Arkansas State recruit. "We are still eager. With us, the big thing is just staying consistent, playing with tons of energy and focusing one every point."

The Wildcats strung together points midway through he first set, when Terrell served them from a 9-7 lead to 13-7 advantage. She had 2 aces during the rally while Kamila Staniszewski (5 kills) and Rochelle Laude (3 kills) each put down winners.

Prospect rallied to tie the set at 20-20 on a back row kill from senior Maggie Porwit (8 kills) before Wheeling scored the next 5 points, getting 3 on kills by Laude.

"Rochelle going 10-of-10 on attack was huge," said Kopkowski, who also watched setter Jessica Janowski hand out 20 assists.

Set 2 was tied 11 times with Prospect taking its last lead at 15-14 on a kill from senior Mary Mazurek (7 kills).

The Wildcats then pulled away to a 19-15 cushion, with points 17 to 19 coming on an ace from Terrell followed by kills from Staniszewski and Amanda Prause.

Prospect climbed back to within 20-18 on kill from senior Kaeli Myers (4 kills) before the Wildcats scored 5 of the next 6 points including Staniszewski's big slam off a block for a side out and 24-19 lead. She then served the match point.

"That was nice all-around play by Wheeling," said Prospect coach Laura Gerber, whose defense was led by Valerie Thomas (12 digs), Kendra Gancarz (10) and setter Paige Gerber (5), who also handed out 19 assists. "It's not just one hitter. They have a lot of hitters. And their defense is strong. They dug up a lot of balls that we thought we were down."

Terrell led Wheeling with 15 digs, followed by Fakhoury (13), Jazmyn Veloso (10), Staniszewski (9) and Shannon Kennedy (7).

Fakhoury, who was a freshman 'B' player four years ago, has become on of the league's premier liberos and sparks the Wildcats' defense.

"After that win over Hersey, we had to make sure we didn't fall on our faces, and we didn't," she said. "I'm really proud of my team."

Kopkowski is really proud of Fakhoury.

"She almost didn't make the sophomore team," he said. "Then between her sophomore and junior year she played club volleyball, and she turned into a different girl. She is one of the hardest working girls I have coached. It's been fun to watch her grow into the player she has. I use her as an example for others."

Kopkowski wanted to make sure his Wildcats weren't an example of other teams he'd seen suffer letdowns after a big win.

"Ive been in the program close to 15 years now and I've certainly seen some heartbreaking situations a team would play lights out against an opponent, and then come back and almost have a hangover effect," he said. '

"We just talked to our players about that and said we had to stick to our motto - attitude and effort. This team is full of real driven girls."

And they are now in the driver's seat in the MSL East.

"We are in unchartered territory but we are excited for it," Kopkowski said. "And these girls are really challenging themselves to play as well as they can every match."