Coupeville Sports

   Hope “The Surgeon” Lodell carved up Klahowya Tuesday afternoon. (John Fisken photos)

   This celebration is from an earlier match, but it perfectly captures Coupeville’s mood at the moment.

The reign of terror is ended.

After two-plus years and 14 straight wins in conference play, the Klahowya High School volleyball squad has been shoved off of its throne.

The dragon slayers?

Coupeville, which went on the road Tuesday and shocked the Eagles, rallying to win in five titanic sets.

The 11-25, 25-23, 20-25, 26-24, 15-9 win gives the Wolves sole possession of first place in the 1A Olympic League, and puts the first dent in Klahowya’s previously ding-free armor.

Now 2-0 in conference play, 4-2 overall, CHS sits a half game up on the Eagles, who slide to 2-1.

Chimacum (1-2) and Port Townsend (0-2), which Coupeville hosts Thursday (JV 4:30, varsity 5:45), round out the league standings.

While anything is far from decided (Coupeville has seven league matches left, including two more against Klahowya), the win guarantees the Eagles will not be able to pull off a third straight undefeated league campaign.

Klahowya went 6-0 in 2014 and 2015.

This year volleyball and soccer expanded their league schedules to nine matches, equaling what basketball, softball and baseball were already doing.

Coupeville’s Rocky-like triumph Tuesday was a sterling testament to the Wolves inner strength, said coach Cory Whitmore.

“I’m so proud of the way we fought and found it within themselves to recover from a rough first set,” he said. “We made plays when we needed to, both defensively and offensively.

“Our poise looked better in close situations and that calm demeanor helped us to come away with a win.”

Wolf junior Hope “The Surgeon” Lodell sparked the victory, chipping in with strong effort in every aspect of the game.

She recorded a team-high seven service aces while adding nine kills and 15 digs.

Mikayla Elfrank pounded home 11 kills to pace the CHS attack, while Valen Trujillo (24 digs) and Katrina McGranahan (five service aces) helped fill up the stat sheet.

Ashley Menges (15 assists) and Lauren Rose (14) teamed up to make a potent two-headed beast at setter, with both playing fairly spotless ball.