Volleyball Results: Sept. 18
Warriors Claim Home Invite
Wawasee weathered through three three-set matches, but came out with a championship at its home invite on Saturday.
The Warriors (16-2) rallied past Culver Academy in three, then Columbia City in three, finally easing into a two-setter over Elkhart Christian to get to the championship. In the showcase game against Garrett, Wawasee fell 17-25 in the first set, but came back to win 25-21 and outlasted the Railroaders 18-16 in the third to walk away with the title.
Leslie Vazquez was named to the All-Tournament Team, registering 42 kills, 25 digs and 11 blocks. Amanda Allen had 87 assists, 25 digs and 11 aces, Dylan Konieczny had 34 kills, Zoe Taylor had 17 kills and Liz Miller added six aces.
“It’s been a while since we brought home this trophy,” said Wawasee head coach Jeff Phillips. “This was a great day. Good, hard-fought wins against quality teams.”
The Wawasee freshman took part in action at Warsaw, finishing fourth place. Kenzie Hackleman had 17 kills and seven aces and Natalia Pizana added 22 assists, six aces and six kills to pace the Warriors.
NorthWood Take Third At Leo
Someone finally figured out the code to crack NorthWood, and it came Saturday at the Leo Invite.
After losing its first match of the season to Penn, NorthWood had rattled off 13 straight wins coming into the Leo Invite, and after two more wins, Lakewood Park Christian finally slowed NorthWood in a three game win, 15-11 in the final set.
NorthWood, which beat New Haven and Fort Wayne Snider in the first two contests, came back to beat Leo in the final match 25-20, 16-25, 15-2.
The Panthers (16-2) were led by Sophia Barber’s 27 kills and 28 digs, Macy Lengacher’s 58 digs, Annika Bennett’s 77 assists, 21 digs, six aces and six blocks and Claire Payne’s 17 kills and nine blocks.
Bethel 3, Grace 1
Grace College’s volleyball team was topped by No. 22 Bethel 3-1 in Crossroads League action on Saturday afternoon.
The shorthanded Lady Lancers (6-9, 1-6 CL) took the opening set but were unable to grab another set from the 22nd ranked Pilots (16-3, 5-2 CL).
This game marked the third NAIA ranked opponent the Grace has played in their last four matches.
The first set was hotly contested as the two traded points through much of the match.
The Lady Lancers used a pair of mini-runs to build a 23-17 lead and were poised to take the set.
The Pilots rallied to win six of the next seven points and trailed by just one at 24-23.
The next rally saw Jadyn Ross try a pair of hard-hit attacks before ultimately hitting off the Bethel block and out of bounds to secure the 25-23 set one victory.
Ross was the catalyst on offense for Grace in the first set, racking up six kills.
Katie Swanson started the second set with a kill, but the Lady Lancers quickly found themselves in hole as the Pilots jumped out to a 17-8 lead.
Anna Frey and Grace Erwin rattled off three straight points that reinvigorated the Lady Lancers. Fueled by the turn in momentum, Grace went on a 9-4 run and drew within 22-18.
Bethel, unfazed by the Grace run, eventually secured the set 25-19.
Grace would fall in the third set in a one-sided affair. The Lady Lancers attacked at a -.032 percentage on their way to a 25-14 defeat.
In what would prove to be the deciding set, Grace fell in a hard-fought fourth. In set four Grace hit a .216 clip but was unable to overcome Bethel’s resilient defense.
The Lady Lancers withstood three set points before falling 29-27.
Cassadi Colbert was lethal on offense with a .615 attack percentage for the day. Frey totaled 17 kills to lead all players.
Morgan Syoen led Grace with 20 assists, and Emily Peterson chipped in 18.
Grace will return to action on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. as they travel to take on Goshen.