NAPPANEE – NorthWood had to work, but the effort paid off in a 3-1 win against Wawasee Thursday night in The Pit. The Lady Panthers won the first two games by matching 25-18 scores, then Wawasee took game three, 25-16, before Wood collected a 25-21 clincher.

Wawasee slid to 16-14 overall and 0-6 in the Northern Lakes Conference despite the big play at the net. Meghan Fretz led the Lady Warriors with 10 kills, Seaquinn Bright adding eight kills and Paige Hlutke, Liz Hardy and Becca Anderson all hammering home four kills. Hardy led Wawasee with 4.5 blocks.

Aly Anderson had 27 digs and Madi Wilson chipped in 15 digs. Alli Ousley helped the offense with 26 assists.

Wawasee did receive a big blow Thursday as hitter Addison Ayres was lost to a knee injury and did not return.

“I am very proud of our effort and overall attitude tonight,” Wawasee head coach Jeff Phillips said. “After an injury to (Ayres), the girls rallied and had a chance.”

NorthWood rallied with a huge game three of the JV match to trump Wawasee 25-16, 24-25, 25-6. For Wawasee (10-12), Taylor Mock had 11 digs, five assists and two aces while Skylar Janda added six digs, three kills, two aces and two blocks.

Wawasee will look to Tuesday and a home date with Triton before wrapping up NLC play next Thursday in the season finale against Northridge.