Warsaw Volleyball: Parrett, Tigers Fly High
WARSAW – It was all smiles on the Warsaw side of the net Thursday.
An outstanding all-around performance from several individuals helped lead Warsaw to a 3-0 win over Wawasee in the Northern Lakes Conference matchup. One of the notables was senior Nikki Parrett, who gutted through a still-gimpy knee and her continued fight with Vasovagal Syncope in her only game of the 2017 season. It was also senior night as Parrett and the five Tiger seniors individually took bows throughout the night with their stellar play in the 25-15, 25-15, 25-18 final.
The notable addition to the evening was Parrett, who was an outside hitter as a junior but suffered an offseason knee injury in addition to her illness, which causes sudden and unannounced fainting spells. Parrett was just fine in her debut, serving as the team’s libero and showing some spunk on the back line. Parrett even took a couple swings from the back row, providing a physical boost as best as she could.
“It just felt like another game playing tonight,” said Parrett just steps from her senior day homage in the hallway. Parrett had 20 digs to lead the Tiger defense and dropped in two kills for old time’s sake. “My knee is still numb from surgery, but it feels the same. My condition didn’t bother me. I got a little hot, but it didn’t bother me at all. It was my first and last game to play, and it was a little crazy today. I really wanted to make today as normal as any other game day I’ve played. I just went for it.”
The run of play in the first game saw Wawasee stick right with Warsaw despite the Tigers’ efforts to dictate much of the pace. At 18-15 Warsaw in game one, there was certainly curiosity if Wawasee would shock the gym as it continued to hang around. But a 7-0 run to end the first game by the Tigers saw Wawasee commit two key passing errors and senior Emma Gelbaugh smash home a big kill.
Warsaw opened game two on an 11-3 run, but Wawasee soon found itself down just 14-10 courtesy of some sloppy net play by the Tigers. Courtney Larson gave Wawasee three blocks and a kill on the same play to make it 15-12, but the Warrior errors again appeared at the wrong time. Three errors in a seven-point stretch saw the lead jet to 21-13 Warsaw.
“We’ve had a season full of hills and valleys,” said Wawasee head coach Kayla Riportella. “We hit peaks, then we dwindle down into tough spots. That’s going to happen with a young team, and I only have four seniors. That makes it hard. Honestly, we had a turning point in the match with Whitko on Monday where my girls all decided enough is enough.
“They are tired of putting in a lot of work, and not seeing the results. And they are deciding to fight for it point for point. That’s the defensive hustle and scrappiness we are seeing in my team right now.”
The third game was much like the first two, with Wawasee not sharp but still down just 12-7, but then letting poor passes and uncontrolled offerings give Kaci Bragg and Alexie Day the opportunities for some big hammers. Day paced the Warsaw attack with 11 kills, and classmates Hanna Leach and Emma Gelbaugh combined for 17 kills. Bragg was a monster as well, setting up 35 points along with five digs, two aces, two kills and a block to boot.
“I think Kacy is one of the better setters in the state,” said Warsaw head coach Rick Ashmore. “She does things that other people can’t do. She lets our offense run really well. When we give her a chance to be in the system, she’s as good of a weapon as there is.”
Kennedy Lauck added three blocks while Erin Peugh added nine digs, six kills and an ace for the Tigers.
“It was more of a night to let the senior enjoy this and what they have given the program and play this game,” Ashmore said. “We had a couple goals we wanted to work on, keep the ball control and let it work out. Then just let the seniors go and wipe the tears off and see if they can enjoy the game.”
Peyton Rookstool continued her improved play for the Warriors (3-16, 0-4 NLC) with 11 digs and was seemingly everywhere on the court throughout the match. Larson had three kills and Hannah-Marie Lamle added a pair of blocks.
Warsaw (15-9) continues to stay alive in the NLC race, moving to 4-1 overall. Concord came into the night at 4-0 and NorthWood at 3-1, the two teams Warsaw will finish up with in the coming weeks.
The Warsaw JV earned the win 25-13, 25-10. Kaia Hummitch led the Tigers with five kills while Courtney Chookie and Gwyn Bellamy each had four digs.
The Wawasee freshman picked up the 25-21, 25-19 win. Morgan Heche had eight digs and Bailey Mayhew had four kills and four blocks for the winning side.