Concord Ends Warsaw Spikers' Streak
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw always knew it was a possibility.
As the Tigers added another notch to their 49-game Northern Lakes Conference win streak, it became an increasingly precarious position to be in with every conference team always giving its best effort against Warsaw.
It finally came crashing down in a 15-17, 15-12, 15-7 loss to Concord Thursday at the Tiger Den. Fittingly on Senior Night, since the six Warsaw seniors hadn't lost a conference match in their high school careers.
In fact, Warsaw hadn't lost a conference match in more than six years, having won six straight outright NLC titles. Despite the conference loss, Warsaw still clinches at least a share of this year's NLC crown and more than likely, another outright one.
Despite knowing it was always a possibility, the Tigers took the loss tough afterward.
"If there is a negative side to having won 49 in a row, I think we are feeling it right now, Warsaw coach Jamie Byron said. "It is the never knowing. We respected every team coming in because on any given night, a team can beat you, and they proved it tonight. That is a drawback to having that record in the conference.
"The biggest thing is that we still have the rest of the season to go," she said. "That is hard for them right now. All they can think about is that they were the ones who lost the 50th."
Entering the match, Concord seemed to be an unlikely candidate for the upset of the year with a modest 18-10 overall record, and a less-than-stellar 1-3 mark in the NLC. But when a streak is on the line, anybody can be a world-beater.
It started to go downhill for the Tigers when they lost one their most consistent offensive and defensive weapons, senior Sarah Calhoun, to an injury in the first game. Not only did Warsaw have a big hole to fill at the net, the absence seemed to affect the Tigers emotionally as well.
"Unfortunately, a big injury to a key player played a big role, but I am proud of the way the girls play," Byron said. "When Sarah went down, Shanna Smith came in and filled her position the best that she could."
Concord took advantage of Calhoun's absence by constantly going to its twin tower combination of sisters Jessica and Janet Baucom. The 6-footers combined for nine kills in game two.
Concord stretched a 9-8 lead to 14-9 and looked poised to breeze to the win. But Warsaw battled back on two kills from Lisa Estep and one by Katie Clemens to make it a 14-12 game. But Janet Baucom hit a big kill a little bit later, and Concord forced the third game with the 15-12 win.
All the energy seemed to be drained out of Warsaw as Concord opened up game three with a 6-2 advantage. The Tigers never got closer than three points the rest of the way as the Minutemen began to smell the upset, and when Jessica Baucom's kill hit the line, Concord had point 15 and the victory.
"Right from the beginning, they came out aggressive," Byron said. "I told our girls that is the way they would come out. Every team is gunning for Warsaw, they want to be the ones to beat us. I told them that they would be especially fired up since it was senior night. They were made to wait before the match."
"Concord didn't let one ball hit the floor without three girls going after it, and that was the difference," she said.
After the senior night festivities were over and the six Warsaw seniors (Calhoun, Estep, Jahna Swanson, Melissa Bolles, Ann Fribley and Sheila Whitaker) were honored, Concord jumped out to the 5-0 lead in the first game.
Warsaw battled back, cutting the margin to 6-5, but the Tigers never seemed to be able to get over the hump as Concord kept its distance. Concord led 12-9 before the Tigers came alive with points on an Estep block and a Fribley ace.
Warsaw eventually tied the score at 13, and the game seesawed after that until the Tigers were able to break through on two Calhoun kills.
But Calhoun would spend the rest of the match on the Warsaw bench and eventually leave the gym on crutches with an injured left leg. Her status for the remainder of the season is still up in the air. Preliminary x-rays show no broken bones, but more tests are expected.
"We will start over right now," Byron said. "We know we have a lot of things to work on, blocking is one, intensity is another, and overall hustle after the ball."
Estep led the Tigers with 10 kills and 20 digs, while Calhoun added eight kills, and Smith had seven. Also, Fribley had 24 digs, Whitaker 13 digs, Swanson two aces and Melissa Bolles 37 assists.
Concord also won the JV match, 13-15, 15-9, 15-11, over the Tigers (13-9).
Warsaw was led by Liz Owens with six kills, and Karla Bailey with five aces.
Warsaw (16-10, 5-1) is at the Clinton Prairie Invitational Saturday. [[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw always knew it was a possibility.
As the Tigers added another notch to their 49-game Northern Lakes Conference win streak, it became an increasingly precarious position to be in with every conference team always giving its best effort against Warsaw.
It finally came crashing down in a 15-17, 15-12, 15-7 loss to Concord Thursday at the Tiger Den. Fittingly on Senior Night, since the six Warsaw seniors hadn't lost a conference match in their high school careers.
In fact, Warsaw hadn't lost a conference match in more than six years, having won six straight outright NLC titles. Despite the conference loss, Warsaw still clinches at least a share of this year's NLC crown and more than likely, another outright one.
Despite knowing it was always a possibility, the Tigers took the loss tough afterward.
"If there is a negative side to having won 49 in a row, I think we are feeling it right now, Warsaw coach Jamie Byron said. "It is the never knowing. We respected every team coming in because on any given night, a team can beat you, and they proved it tonight. That is a drawback to having that record in the conference.
"The biggest thing is that we still have the rest of the season to go," she said. "That is hard for them right now. All they can think about is that they were the ones who lost the 50th."
Entering the match, Concord seemed to be an unlikely candidate for the upset of the year with a modest 18-10 overall record, and a less-than-stellar 1-3 mark in the NLC. But when a streak is on the line, anybody can be a world-beater.
It started to go downhill for the Tigers when they lost one their most consistent offensive and defensive weapons, senior Sarah Calhoun, to an injury in the first game. Not only did Warsaw have a big hole to fill at the net, the absence seemed to affect the Tigers emotionally as well.
"Unfortunately, a big injury to a key player played a big role, but I am proud of the way the girls play," Byron said. "When Sarah went down, Shanna Smith came in and filled her position the best that she could."
Concord took advantage of Calhoun's absence by constantly going to its twin tower combination of sisters Jessica and Janet Baucom. The 6-footers combined for nine kills in game two.
Concord stretched a 9-8 lead to 14-9 and looked poised to breeze to the win. But Warsaw battled back on two kills from Lisa Estep and one by Katie Clemens to make it a 14-12 game. But Janet Baucom hit a big kill a little bit later, and Concord forced the third game with the 15-12 win.
All the energy seemed to be drained out of Warsaw as Concord opened up game three with a 6-2 advantage. The Tigers never got closer than three points the rest of the way as the Minutemen began to smell the upset, and when Jessica Baucom's kill hit the line, Concord had point 15 and the victory.
"Right from the beginning, they came out aggressive," Byron said. "I told our girls that is the way they would come out. Every team is gunning for Warsaw, they want to be the ones to beat us. I told them that they would be especially fired up since it was senior night. They were made to wait before the match."
"Concord didn't let one ball hit the floor without three girls going after it, and that was the difference," she said.
After the senior night festivities were over and the six Warsaw seniors (Calhoun, Estep, Jahna Swanson, Melissa Bolles, Ann Fribley and Sheila Whitaker) were honored, Concord jumped out to the 5-0 lead in the first game.
Warsaw battled back, cutting the margin to 6-5, but the Tigers never seemed to be able to get over the hump as Concord kept its distance. Concord led 12-9 before the Tigers came alive with points on an Estep block and a Fribley ace.
Warsaw eventually tied the score at 13, and the game seesawed after that until the Tigers were able to break through on two Calhoun kills.
But Calhoun would spend the rest of the match on the Warsaw bench and eventually leave the gym on crutches with an injured left leg. Her status for the remainder of the season is still up in the air. Preliminary x-rays show no broken bones, but more tests are expected.
"We will start over right now," Byron said. "We know we have a lot of things to work on, blocking is one, intensity is another, and overall hustle after the ball."
Estep led the Tigers with 10 kills and 20 digs, while Calhoun added eight kills, and Smith had seven. Also, Fribley had 24 digs, Whitaker 13 digs, Swanson two aces and Melissa Bolles 37 assists.
Concord also won the JV match, 13-15, 15-9, 15-11, over the Tigers (13-9).
Warsaw was led by Liz Owens with six kills, and Karla Bailey with five aces.
Warsaw (16-10, 5-1) is at the Clinton Prairie Invitational Saturday. [[In-content Ad]]