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Skyline 17 drops heartbreaker, places second in nation
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer
DALLAS n Being involved in a TAV-Skyline match was nothing new for Plano West senior Haley Wessels.
But competing for Skyline 17 RoShamBo Jason in a win or go home match against TAV 17 Asics was somewhat of a new experience for Wessels as she had been on the opposite side of the net just a year earlier.
That scenario unfolded Tuesday afternoon at the Dallas Convention Center as Skyline 17, which includes Wessels, West senior Madie Jones, Prestonwood Christian Academy senior Caroline Adams and Allen senior Sarah Bullock, faced TAV 17, which features West senior Megan Murphy, in the semifinals of the 2008 Junior Olympic Girls Volleyball Championships.
That appeared to be the case early on as Skyline 17 roared to a 2-0 lead with 25-19, 30-28 triumphs and held a 20-11 advantage in Game 3. But that’s where the tide turned as Murphy and company stormed back and eventually won the third game, 29-27.
TAV, which held a 4-1 match advantage over Skyline 17 during the year, then forced a decisive game with a 26-24 victory in the fourth.
“We have always been pretty equally matched, so I don’t think it was a surprise that the match went five,” Wessels said. “We were both pumped up for it.”
As were the home fans as the two Metroplex squads pulled in scores of fans for the semifinal match. After dropping Games 3 and 4, Skyline 17 steadied itself and took the deciding game, 15-11, to move on to the finals.
Wessels said the girls were ecstatic about moving on to the finals, where the team would face fellow 8-0 squad AJV 17 Mizuno. Skyline 17, however, had also already played 10 games that day, having defeated Gold Cal 17 Jeff in a five-game quarterfinal match.
“We were very tired by that point,” Wessels said. “But still happy to be there.”
AJV 17 took the first the first game, 25-22, and held a 16-13 advantage in Game 2 before Skyline 17 came alive. Wessels, Adams, Bullock and Jones, who was named to the all-tournament team, all contributed as Skyline 17 went on a 12-4 run to win Game 2, 25-20, and even the match.
And though the match would go four games, it was the third game that served as the tipping point. Skyline 17 had the momentum and looked to take control of the match as the club held a 24-20 advantage in Game 3.
But as had occurred in Game 3 against TAV, Skyline 17 had trouble putting the game away. AJV won the next six points for a 26-24 Game 3 victory.
“I don’t why we had so much trouble on game points, but it was definitely a problem all weekend,” Wessels said. “I think it might have been because we were relaxing too much.”
Skyline 17 didn’t relax in Game 4, but couldn’t overcome their Austin-based opponent either as AJV won the game, and clinched the championship, 25-21.
“A lot of the girls on our team aren’t used to being in pressure matches like this,” Wessels said. “So we were disappointed that we lost, but at the same time it was cool because we gave [AJV] a run for their money.”
An 8-1 record and second place national finish also allows Wessels, Adams, Jones and Bullock to harbor optimism for 2009, their last season as a team.
“It’s like I’ve been dreaming the last couple of days,” Jones said. “I never … it’s like a dream come true; there are no words to describe finishing second in the nation.
“We are very happy to be second, but next year we will be back and going for first.”
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