Concord Knocks Warsaw Out Of NLC Race
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Thursday's volleyball match with Concord was one reason why Warsaw played in the Mishawaka Invitational, why Warsaw played in some of the best invitationals in the state.
The Tigers played in them to prepare for the Northern Lakes Conference.
So when Concord entered the Tiger Den sporting a 27-4 record overall and 4-0 record in the NLC, Warsaw coach Jamie Byron wasn't necessarily worried.
Yeah, the Tigers were 12-15 overall and 4-1 in the NLC. But Byron compared schedules.
"I did think we were pretty evenly matched coming in," Byron said. "I know they played Elkhart Memorial a few times, and they played Penn close. But I viewed our schedule as tougher, so I thought this match was even up."
It was, for the most part, but Concord pulled out the 15-13, 15-12 win. The Minutemen, who have not won the NLC title since 1984, control their own destiny. They still have to face Plymouth, which has only one NLC loss. If the Minutemen win that match, they win the NLC crown.
Asked the reason for Concord's improvement, coach Jim Routhier said: "What's happened is, our senior leadership and junior athletes have come together. That's a good mix to have."
The first match the Tigers dug themselves into a hole, falling behind 9-3. They rallied, eventually cutting the lead to one at 14-13, but Concord held the Tigers off.
The second match nearly mirrored the first. Concord went ahead 9-4, only to watch Warsaw storm back to cut the lead to two at 14-12. Again, to little, too late.
"I definitely think they brought their A game, and we were a little flat," Byron said. "We had overpasses. We gave them all kinds of free opportunities at the net to cram it down our throat, and they did. We had Jessica in the net a few too many times."
Said Routhier: "I think the difference was our blocking and net play. We touched a lot of balls at the net tonight. We ended it tonight with a key block at the net."
When the match had ended, Byron compared this season to one Warsaw went through two years ago.
"This has to be our mindset, that no, we didn't win conference, but it's not over," Byron said. "This will determine the rest of our season. We can fold, but I don't think that will happen, or we can fight. I believe that will happen.
"This happened two years ago. We had a loss like this, and we went on to semistate."
Depending on the Concord/Plymouth match, the best Warsaw can hope for is second place in the NLC. If Plymouth wins, Warsaw ties NorthWood for second. If Concord wins, Warsaw will tie for third.
Warsaw ends the regular season by competing in the Clinton Prairie Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday.
CONCORD DEF. WARSAW 15-13, 15-12
Records: Concord 28-4, 5-0 NLC; Warsaw 12-16, 4-2 NLC
Warsaw kills leaders -ÊLiz Owens 10, Nancy Mason 9, Brooke Sutton 9, Nerecia Taylor 4
Warsaw blocks leaders -ÊMason 5, Ryann Jones 5, Taylor 4
Warsaw digs leaders -ÊOwens 16, Mason 14, Jessica Zaugg 9, Sutton 9, Amy Poling 9
Warsaw aces -ÊZaugg 2, Mason 2, Jones 2
Warsaw assists leader -ÊZaugg 28 [[In-content Ad]]
Thursday's volleyball match with Concord was one reason why Warsaw played in the Mishawaka Invitational, why Warsaw played in some of the best invitationals in the state.
The Tigers played in them to prepare for the Northern Lakes Conference.
So when Concord entered the Tiger Den sporting a 27-4 record overall and 4-0 record in the NLC, Warsaw coach Jamie Byron wasn't necessarily worried.
Yeah, the Tigers were 12-15 overall and 4-1 in the NLC. But Byron compared schedules.
"I did think we were pretty evenly matched coming in," Byron said. "I know they played Elkhart Memorial a few times, and they played Penn close. But I viewed our schedule as tougher, so I thought this match was even up."
It was, for the most part, but Concord pulled out the 15-13, 15-12 win. The Minutemen, who have not won the NLC title since 1984, control their own destiny. They still have to face Plymouth, which has only one NLC loss. If the Minutemen win that match, they win the NLC crown.
Asked the reason for Concord's improvement, coach Jim Routhier said: "What's happened is, our senior leadership and junior athletes have come together. That's a good mix to have."
The first match the Tigers dug themselves into a hole, falling behind 9-3. They rallied, eventually cutting the lead to one at 14-13, but Concord held the Tigers off.
The second match nearly mirrored the first. Concord went ahead 9-4, only to watch Warsaw storm back to cut the lead to two at 14-12. Again, to little, too late.
"I definitely think they brought their A game, and we were a little flat," Byron said. "We had overpasses. We gave them all kinds of free opportunities at the net to cram it down our throat, and they did. We had Jessica in the net a few too many times."
Said Routhier: "I think the difference was our blocking and net play. We touched a lot of balls at the net tonight. We ended it tonight with a key block at the net."
When the match had ended, Byron compared this season to one Warsaw went through two years ago.
"This has to be our mindset, that no, we didn't win conference, but it's not over," Byron said. "This will determine the rest of our season. We can fold, but I don't think that will happen, or we can fight. I believe that will happen.
"This happened two years ago. We had a loss like this, and we went on to semistate."
Depending on the Concord/Plymouth match, the best Warsaw can hope for is second place in the NLC. If Plymouth wins, Warsaw ties NorthWood for second. If Concord wins, Warsaw will tie for third.
Warsaw ends the regular season by competing in the Clinton Prairie Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday.
CONCORD DEF. WARSAW 15-13, 15-12
Records: Concord 28-4, 5-0 NLC; Warsaw 12-16, 4-2 NLC
Warsaw kills leaders -ÊLiz Owens 10, Nancy Mason 9, Brooke Sutton 9, Nerecia Taylor 4
Warsaw blocks leaders -ÊMason 5, Ryann Jones 5, Taylor 4
Warsaw digs leaders -ÊOwens 16, Mason 14, Jessica Zaugg 9, Sutton 9, Amy Poling 9
Warsaw aces -ÊZaugg 2, Mason 2, Jones 2
Warsaw assists leader -ÊZaugg 28 [[In-content Ad]]