Warsaw Spikers Claim Conference Crown
WARSAW – Sometimes it really is okay not to want to share.
Just ask the Warsaw volleyball team.
The Tigers proved their championship mettle Thursday night to claim an outright conference championship.
Warsaw won the points that mattered most the entire way in downing Concord 3-0 in the final Northern Lakes Conference match of the season.
The Tigers, by virtue of the tough 29-27, 30-28, 25-17 win, close out the NLC season at a perfect 7-0.
Warsaw, which is now 24-4 overall, wins its second NLC championship in the past three season. The Tigers also went 7-0 in 2012, snapping Elkhart Memorial’s decade of dominance in the NLC along the way.
Memorial, which lost 3-2 at home to the Tigers in the conference opener, is league runner-up at 6-1. Concord is now 4-2 in the NLC with a league match at Plymouth next week.
Thursday night though was all about the young and resilient Tigers.
Warsaw, which has overcome plenty of adversity this season, simply found a way to win on its Pink Out night.
The Tigers, who have thrived due to their unselfishness and chemistry, found it okay to be selfish in their pursuit of league perfection.
“We found ways tonight and we did not want to share the NLC,” said Warsaw coach Mike Howard. “We really completely reloaded this year with all new kids in all new roles for us so this is exciting.
“These kids understand how to win. They make high IQ plays and that’s really exciting to see. Once we beat Memorial early on the season changes. You could see the belief in the kids.”
The Tigers, who have now won 16 of their last 17 matches, avenged that lone loss. Concord, which is now 20-9 overall, beat Warsaw 2-1 in the Michigan City Invitational.
“Concord is a dangerous team and they played us bought,” Howard stated. “They are hard to defend and Staggs is a challenge. But this team defends and will go to the floor.”
Warsaw saw a 23-18 lead in the opening set disappear. Concord rallied to lead at 25-24 and 26-25, but could not close it out. The Tigers tied the first game at 27-27 before Jordyn Lindeman came up with a huge stuff block and then Katie Voelz ended the 30 minute set with a huge kill off a block attempt.
The Minutemen had another chance in the second set. Concord led 24-22 before Lindeman had a clutch kill and then a service ace to tie it. The Minutemen retook leads at 26-25, 27-26 and then 28-27. Warsaw tied the set on a Concord error at 28-28 and then got an ace from Peyton Adamiec and a kill by Lindeman for the win.
The Tigers were not about to let Concord back in the match at the end. The hosts controlled the final set throughout as Voelz dominated the offensive attack. Warsaw won the match and the NLC title as a Concord shot sailed long for match point to end the 92-minute contest.
“The thing is that we had a lot of contributors tonight,” remarked Howard. “Jordyn came up with some huge blocks for us. Caroline (Mayer) was a difference maker at the net with some huge swings. Peyton (Adamiec) got better as the match went on.
“It’s just great to see so many players step up for us. We just want to keep the momentum going.”
The Tigers also got a great performance from sophomore setter Cassie Hoag.
“Cassie is maybe the most unselfish player we’ve ever had,” said Howard. “She is the engine that makes us go. Her speed is impressive and her defensive abilities really help us.”
Star Voelz, one of just two seniors for the Tigers, was tough. She finished with 21 kills to go with 19 digs and two aces.
Juniors Lindeman and Mayer both played outstanding for the champions. Lindeman had eight kills and three blocks and Mayer came up with eight kills, 15 digs and two blocks. Hoag dealt out 45 assists, while junior libero Peyton Adamiec had 29 digs and junior Blake McGarvey two aces.
Senior Gabby Staggs led Concord with 14 kills. Senior Lillie Schiavone had eight kills. Senior Holyn Eldridge had 24 assists and 15 digs and senior Ciana Bonfiglio had 22 digs.
Warsaw won the junior varsity match 25-22, 25-19. Hanna Leach and Alexie Day each had four kills and Kenzie Welk, Alicia Sikora and Lucy Fahler two each. Welk led the defense with 10 digs, while Jamie Grose had nine and Day and Raina Armey five each. Sikora had 13 assists, while Welk had four aces and Grose and Day one each. Dayton Groninger had two blocks and Leach one.
The Tiger JV, coached by Chandra Hepler, is now 17-2 overall and finishes 5-2 in the NLC.
Concord defeated Warsaw 25-22, 20-25, 15-9 in freshman action. The Tigers beat Lakeland 25-12, 25-14. The Warsaw frosh is now 18-6 overall and 4-1 in the NLC.
The Tigers will host Penn Monday night and then travel to Carroll on Wednesday before hosting the Warsaw Spiker Invitational on Oct. 18 to wrap up the regular season.
Sectional play begins on Oct. 23 at Concord with a Class 4-A field that features the Tigers along with Elkhart Memorial.