Sophomore Kacy Bragg sets the ball for host Warsaw Saturday. Bragg had an outstanding performance in a 3-1 loss to Concord in the sectional semifinals in the Tiger Den.

WARSAW – There were plenty of tears following the final match of the season Saturday afternoon for the Warsaw volleyball team.

Coach Rick Ashmore says that’s a good thing for his program, the players in it and its future fortunes.

The third time did not prove to be a charm as the host Tigers dropped a 3-1 final to Concord in a semifinal match of the Class 4-A Warsaw Sectional.

Warsaw, in its first season under the direction of Ashmore and bidding for the program’s first sectional title since 2004, finishes at 20-14.

Concord, which beat Warsaw in two of three meetings this season including both times in the Tiger Den, posted the 25-18, 25-21, 24-26, 25-22 victory.

The Minutemen advanced to face Elkhart Central (25-4) Saturday at 7 p.m. in the sectional finale. Central, which beat No. 5 Penn 3-1 in the sectional opener Tuesday night. rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top Northridge 3-2 in the first semifinal contest Saturday.

The Blue Blazers bested the Raiders, who finish at 21-13, 19-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-12 in a marathon that took almost two hours to play.

Concord claimed the sectional title Saturday night by topping Central 26-24, 25-20, 22-25, 27-25. Concord will host LaPorte, which won the Plymouth Sectional championship, in a regional match Tuesday night.

“Our kids really stepped up and responded this season,” said Ashmore following the tough loss to conference foe Concord. “They did everything that we asked of them. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute coaching them this season.

Junior Nikki Parrett follows through after a kill for the Tigers.

“How hard they took this loss shows that they care. It shows that they bought in. It’s a group that wants to succeed and is committed to the program.”

Warsaw, which lost 3-2 to Concord in their Northern Lakes Conference meeting back on Oct. 6, simply could not overcome a slow start and a number of little mistakes on Saturday.

The Minutemen pulled away from a close opening set that was tied at 12-12. The Tigers, who were hurt all match long by hitting errors, missed serves and a tough passing day, dropped the first game 25-18.

Concord, which did lose 2-0 to the Tigers in the Michigan City Invitational on Sept. 17, led just 14-13 in the second set. The Minutemen though got big plays from junior Ella Cunningham at the net and setter Kennedy Sullivan to pull away to the 25-21 win.

The Tigers, who will graduate just one senior, showed their heart in the third set.

Concord, which has just two seniors, rolled out to a 17-8 lead and appeared ready to pitch the shutout. Warsaw had other ideas as standout sophomore Kacy Bragg and junior Alexie Day rallied the home team. Southpaw Bragg was stellar with her swings as the Tigers rallied within 21-20 on a Bragg kill. Concord inched ahead 23-20 on back-to-back hitting errors by Warsaw. The hosts refused to fold though, using a 4-0 run capped by a Bragg blast to lead 24-23. Concord tied the game at 24-24 before Bragg slammed two kills to give her team the 26-24 win.

The final set proved to be as close as it could be. The teams were tied at 14, 15, 16 and 17. The Minutemen took a 20-17 lead on a key Warsaw missed serve, a Tiger hitting error and a block by senior Cortnee Coffin. A Warsaw net violation and another hitting miscue made it 22-17.  Warsaw got within 23-19 on kills by sophomore Katie Swanson and junior Hanna Leach. A kill by Leach made it 23-20 before a missed serve by the Tigers made it 24-20. Bragg then hammered a kill to make it 24-21 and a Concord error made it 24-22. The Minutemen took the match, which lasted 1:40, on a block by Cunningham.

Alexie Day takes a swing.

“We were just not in system today,” noted Ashmore. “We were not able to run a multi-dimensional attack. We were one dimensional and it was obvious where we were going with the ball. Our serve receive is normally one of our strong points. We were just a little tentative today.

“Every time we did get into a rhythm today, we were taken out of it by situations. I knew going into this match that it would be a great one. Concord has a great team and we have a great team.”

Sophomore do-it-all star Bragg, a Division I talent, had a huge match. The southpaw slammed down 20 kills to go with four blocks, three aces, nine digs and 13 assists.

Junior Nikki Parrett had 12 kills, Day nine and Leach six. Sophomore Rachel Yeager two kills, Swanson and sophomore Erin Peugh one each. Sophomore Addie Dickerhoff had 17 assists, Peugh three and Leach and Yeager one each. Leach had three blocks and Swanson one, while Leach and Day each had one ace.

Day led the defense with 21 digs. Libero Peugh had 17, Dickerhoff 15, Brynn Durecki nine, Leach three and Yeager one.

Warsaw will lose one senior in Brynn Durecki. The Tigers will also look to players from a  junior varsity team that finished 25-4 this year and a freshman squad that was 32-1 next season.

Alexie Day (left) and Katie Swanson communicate at the net for Warsaw.

Kacy Bragg slammed down 20 kills.