Girls volleyball: Hoffman Estates continues winning ways vs. Wheeling
Hoffman Estates' best start in four seasons under girls volleyball coach Pat Moran continued on Tuesday night at Wheeling.
Charlotte McGrath has sure done her part to set up the quick 3-1 beginning for the Hawks, who got there with a 25-20, 25-17 Mid-Suburban League crossover win.
After 22 assists on Monday night to help her team past Streamwood, the senior setter handed out 18 on Tuesday along with some stellar defensive play that kept many rallies alive for the visitors' offense. McGrath finished with 6 digs and she was 10-of-11 serving.
"She does everything," Moran said of his senior captain. "She blocks at the net, she sets well, she plays good defense and she keeps the girls talking with wonderful leadership. Honestly, she is just really a coach's dream. She played a good match Monday but I thought she was exceptional tonight. Not only with her sets but with decision-making as well."
"I can't believe it," McGrath said of the fast start for Hoffman. "It's so exciting. This is the best team I've ever been on. It's so awesome. We just work so well together and obviously our coach is a big part of that. Our team is just clicking right away."
Maya Huelsman served Wheeling (2-5) to a 4-0 lead in Set 1.
The Hawks didn't get their first lead until a kill by McGrath made it 19-18. McGrath then made one of her sprawling saves to keep a rally alive and the Hawks surged ahead 20-18.
A kill by the Wildcats' Danni Moser tied it at 20 before Hoffman closed it out with 5 straight points, including 4 service points by McGrath.
In Set 2, Hoffman raced ahead 4-1 behind 3 service points from McGrath but Wheeling rallied and went ahead 15-13 with back-to back aces from Noelle Lawson.
"We didn't let it bother us," McGrath said. "We just battled back because we knew we could finish it."
Hoffman outscored the hosts 12-2 the rest of the way, getting 2 aces from senior Elyssa Wuerffel (6) and one from Abby Major (7 kills).
"Abby Major has really been stepping up, too," Moran said, "She had a phenomenal match Monday and another good one tonight. She is just really smart. She doesn't go up there trying to crush the ball. She takes a good approach and puts it in a good spot."
Libero Chloe Cruz lifted the back row with 12 digs while sophomore Izzy Troyer also sparked the offense (18-for-19, 5 kills).
"This is a special group, " Moran said., "Everyone wants to be the next person up. They all want to pick each other up."
"Hoffman played a great match," said Wheeling coach Jason Kopkowski. "They have just one 'go' and its 100 percent all the time. They are super scrappy and super smart. So kudos to them. In regards to our play, we are pretty young and we're figuring things out. But no excuses for sure. Hoffman just outplayed us."