Nolan Knight prepares to serve during Warsaw’s meet with Homestead Wednesday. (Photos by James Costello)

WARSAW — Warsaw tennis got a look at one of the best in the state Wednesday night.

The Tigers didn’t win a whole lot of points in a 5-0 loss to No. 3 Chesterton, but they did take some lessons away from the home meet.

“Playing players like this is definitely a learning experience. I think you learn more from playing players like this,” said Warsaw coach Stacy Lind.

“The boys, they said it themselves, that they learned some things that they need to work on. They got to experience that. In doubles, getting that ball across the court, keeping their ground shots lower when opponents are at the net. They always walk away with something they can look back and learn to move forward with.”

Warsaw’s most competitive match of the evening came on one of the doubles courts, as Spencer Britton and Nolan Knight fell 6-2, 6-2 to Bryant Zitlaw and Tim Steiner. The Tigers 1 doubles tandem trailed just 3-2 in the first set but couldn’t get out in front of their Mustang counterparts, who turned it on to complete the sweep.

“They’re a strong doubles team, and they play very well together,” said Lind of Britton and Knight.

Spencer Britton chases down a ball Wednesday.

“I don’t know if (Zitlaw and Steiner) pulled away. They’re playing against a really tough team, and their opponents, I think, just stepped up and brought their full game on.”

Warsaw took just one game from Homestead on the remaining four varsity courts Wednesday.

Jarett Orr and Michael Ray lost 6-1, 6-0 to Thaddeus Dressel and Landon Sather at 2 doubles. The Tigers fell in straight 6-0 sets at each of the three singles positions, Caleb Williams falling to David Heiney at the 1 spot, Brian Elliott losing to Daniel Gilbert at the 2 spot, and Hayden Anderson succumbing to Andrew Meier at the 3 singles position.

The Tigers slipped to 2-5 in Lind’s first season at the helm of the program, taking over for Rick Orban, who underwent back surgery following the girls season last spring. So far, so good, says Lind.

“It’s been great. I’ve loved the support and the encouragement,” said the first-year Tigers boss. “A great group of boys. I’m very lucky. The parents are wonderful. The staff here at Warsaw and the athletic department have been very helpful. I’m thrilled and honored to be here.”

Warsaw travels to Fort Wayne Canterbury Thursday before returning home to host an invitational Saturday starting at 9 am.