Lady Tigers Spike Fort Wayne Snider
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Opening the year at Fort Wayne Snider Wednesday, the Lady Tigers (1-0) jumped out to quick 7-0 lead in the opening game, and didn’t have too many hiccups in a three-game victory, 25-21, 25-15, 25-8.
“It looked like we were a little nervous at the start,” Warsaw coach Mike Howard said. “We made some errors, but then we cleaned our play up and got better from the service line, we got better receiving the balls as the game went on.”
Gone from last year’s historic team, which swept through the Northern Lakes Conference undefeated, are 2013 all-conference players Jamie Lacheta, Alex Sanchez and Chloe Hubner, as well as Samantha Jensen and Rebecca Ailes.
Even though they lost three all-conference players, the Lady Tigers still return two, but senior Emily Poe was sidelined with an injury in the season opener. In Wednesday’s sweep, however, her talents weren’t needed.
Junior Katie Voelz is Warsaw’s other returning all-NLC player, and she played like it against Snider, posting nine kills, three blocks and four aces.
But along with her stats, Voelz’s vocal leadership was also on display.
“She’s really stepping out,” Howard said of Voelz. “The girls voted her one of our captains. She just brings such enthusiasm to the court and it’s infectious to everybody. She’s really starting to find her voice as a player. It’s exciting to see.”
Another returnee who will have a bigger role this season is junior Taylor Jagger.
Finding spot time as a sophomore, Jagger showed flashes, but in her first start, she posted 10 kills from her outside hitter position.
“She played really well tonight,” Howard said of Jagger. “She just got stronger and stronger as the game went on. When you’re young, you need those kids who have that experience to come in and settle down the younger kids.”
Another new face to the team isn’t young, as senior Laura Craig transferred in from Northridge and had 10 kills, 10 digs and three aces in her Warsaw debut.
“We’re just excited to have her playing for us,” Howard said.
As far as young players, sophomores Peyton Adamiec and Cassie Hoag each got their first starts Wednesday.
From her libero position, replacing Sanchez, Adamiec had 18 digs and Hoag led the team with 24 assists, a stat formerly dominated by Hubner.
Sophomore Jordyn Lindeman also saw a lot of time on the court, getting two blocks, and showing the squad may have new faces, but the play is still at a high level.
“We have a lot of depth, we have a lot of good players,” Howard said. “We’ve really been struggling to try to figure out our lineup. Emily Poe, one of our senior outside hitters – an all-conference player – is out right now with an injury. So, it’s great to see other kids step up. We’re not really at full power right now and it’s nice to see young kids get an opportunity.
“It’s new faces, but hopefully the system is starting to be in place,” he added. “So, the idea is, we just plug people in and hopefully we can keep on going.”
Up next for Warsaw is Saturday’s Lafayette Jefferson Invitational, an event the Lady Tigers used to open their season at, but switched things up this year.
“We’re really trying to balance our schedule more and try to spread matches out a little bit,” Howard said. “We were really bunched the last few years. Snider wanted to move, and it was a great fit for all of us. We get a little more rest in the season and get more work. We moved our Labor Day tournament to the end of the season, because we have such a long layoff. I’m excited about it.”
WARSAW DEF. F.W. SNIDER 25-21, 25-15, 25-8
Kills – Taylor Jagger (W) 10, Laura Craig (W) 10, Katie Voelz (W) 9, Brianne Stone (S) 4; Assists – Cassie Hoag (W) 24, Brynne Skarie (S) 13, Megan Chauncey (W) 10; Blocks – Voelz (W) 3, Jordyn Lindeman (W) 2; Digs – Peyton Adamiec (W) 18, Delaney Goble (W) 10, Craig (W) 10, Felicia Aguirre (S) 9, Taniya Richardson (S) 9; Aces – Voelz (W) 4, Hoag (W) 4, Craig (W) 3, Jadalyn Tindall (S) 2, Richardson (S) 2
Records: Warsaw 1-0, Snider 0-1
JV – Warsaw def. Snider 25-21, 25-22[[In-content Ad]]
Opening the year at Fort Wayne Snider Wednesday, the Lady Tigers (1-0) jumped out to quick 7-0 lead in the opening game, and didn’t have too many hiccups in a three-game victory, 25-21, 25-15, 25-8.
“It looked like we were a little nervous at the start,” Warsaw coach Mike Howard said. “We made some errors, but then we cleaned our play up and got better from the service line, we got better receiving the balls as the game went on.”
Gone from last year’s historic team, which swept through the Northern Lakes Conference undefeated, are 2013 all-conference players Jamie Lacheta, Alex Sanchez and Chloe Hubner, as well as Samantha Jensen and Rebecca Ailes.
Even though they lost three all-conference players, the Lady Tigers still return two, but senior Emily Poe was sidelined with an injury in the season opener. In Wednesday’s sweep, however, her talents weren’t needed.
Junior Katie Voelz is Warsaw’s other returning all-NLC player, and she played like it against Snider, posting nine kills, three blocks and four aces.
But along with her stats, Voelz’s vocal leadership was also on display.
“She’s really stepping out,” Howard said of Voelz. “The girls voted her one of our captains. She just brings such enthusiasm to the court and it’s infectious to everybody. She’s really starting to find her voice as a player. It’s exciting to see.”
Another returnee who will have a bigger role this season is junior Taylor Jagger.
Finding spot time as a sophomore, Jagger showed flashes, but in her first start, she posted 10 kills from her outside hitter position.
“She played really well tonight,” Howard said of Jagger. “She just got stronger and stronger as the game went on. When you’re young, you need those kids who have that experience to come in and settle down the younger kids.”
Another new face to the team isn’t young, as senior Laura Craig transferred in from Northridge and had 10 kills, 10 digs and three aces in her Warsaw debut.
“We’re just excited to have her playing for us,” Howard said.
As far as young players, sophomores Peyton Adamiec and Cassie Hoag each got their first starts Wednesday.
From her libero position, replacing Sanchez, Adamiec had 18 digs and Hoag led the team with 24 assists, a stat formerly dominated by Hubner.
Sophomore Jordyn Lindeman also saw a lot of time on the court, getting two blocks, and showing the squad may have new faces, but the play is still at a high level.
“We have a lot of depth, we have a lot of good players,” Howard said. “We’ve really been struggling to try to figure out our lineup. Emily Poe, one of our senior outside hitters – an all-conference player – is out right now with an injury. So, it’s great to see other kids step up. We’re not really at full power right now and it’s nice to see young kids get an opportunity.
“It’s new faces, but hopefully the system is starting to be in place,” he added. “So, the idea is, we just plug people in and hopefully we can keep on going.”
Up next for Warsaw is Saturday’s Lafayette Jefferson Invitational, an event the Lady Tigers used to open their season at, but switched things up this year.
“We’re really trying to balance our schedule more and try to spread matches out a little bit,” Howard said. “We were really bunched the last few years. Snider wanted to move, and it was a great fit for all of us. We get a little more rest in the season and get more work. We moved our Labor Day tournament to the end of the season, because we have such a long layoff. I’m excited about it.”
WARSAW DEF. F.W. SNIDER 25-21, 25-15, 25-8
Kills – Taylor Jagger (W) 10, Laura Craig (W) 10, Katie Voelz (W) 9, Brianne Stone (S) 4; Assists – Cassie Hoag (W) 24, Brynne Skarie (S) 13, Megan Chauncey (W) 10; Blocks – Voelz (W) 3, Jordyn Lindeman (W) 2; Digs – Peyton Adamiec (W) 18, Delaney Goble (W) 10, Craig (W) 10, Felicia Aguirre (S) 9, Taniya Richardson (S) 9; Aces – Voelz (W) 4, Hoag (W) 4, Craig (W) 3, Jadalyn Tindall (S) 2, Richardson (S) 2
Records: Warsaw 1-0, Snider 0-1
JV – Warsaw def. Snider 25-21, 25-22[[In-content Ad]]
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