After a quick start in the first two games, Warsaw's varsity volleyball team used a strong finish in the fourth game to down Northern Lakes Conference opponent Northridge Wednesday.

Behind the serving of sophomore Danielle DeGeeter, the Tigers jumped out to big leads and won the first two games 25-18 and 25-17, but "bad ball handling and not playing in system," according to Warsaw coach Doug West, resulted in a 25-19 win for Northridge in the third game.

Needing to win just one more game for the match win, Warsaw appeared to be a different team in the fourth game than it was in the third, racing out to a 7-2 lead and cruising to a 25-12 win.

"We had some trouble with our ball handling and did not play in system," West said of the third game. "They (Northridge) gained momentum from that and got back in the match by stringing some points together."

A sport where momentum is key, stringing points together was the story of the night for the Tigers.

When they did it, they were easily in command. When they didn't, Northridge won the third game.

With DeGeeter serving to start the first game, Warsaw raced out to a 7-0 lead.

After Northridge served to start the second game, which resulted in a Warsaw point, DeGeeter and the Tigers were able to string some points together and jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the serve changed hands.

In the fourth and final game, Warsaw led 2-1 early and the Tigers strung five straight points together with junior Kim Clay serving.

"I'm real pleased overall with the serving," said West, whose Tigers improved to 8-4 on the season and 2-1 in the NLC. "We showed the ability to get strings of points, and we were able to open up nice leads as a result of that. Danielle (DeGeeter) has a very strong serve, as do a number of other players. With our serving, we did a nice job establishing leads."

DeGeeter finished the evening with 14 service points, while senior Cheyenne Runnells had 10 and Clay six.

DeGeeter also led the Tigers with 16 assists. Junior Tasia Smith and senior Rebekah Reichard had seven kills each, while junior Julie Seiss had five. Senior Kara Mayer and classmate Runnells had a team-high 10 digs, while senior Cynthia Park paced the Tigers with seven blocks.

Warsaw is in action again tonight at Penn.

WARSAW DEF. NORTHRIDGE 25-18, 25-17, 19-25, 25-12

(Warsaw leaders)

Kills - Tasia Smith 7, Rebekah Reichard 7, Julie Seiss 5, Kara Mayer 4, Cynthia Park 3, Kim Clay 2, Cheyenne Runnells 1, Danielle DeGeeter 1, Noelle Scrafton 1

Assists - DeGeeter 16, Runnells 12

Digs - Mayer 10, Runnells 10, Clay 5, Reichard 5, Scrafton 5, DeGeeter 4, Smith 4, Seiss 2, Park 2

Blocks - Park 7, DeGeeter 4, Smith 3, Reichard 1, Seiss 1

Service points - DeGeeter 14, Runnells 10, Clay 6, Reichard 5, Mayer 4, Scrafton 4, Seiss 3, Kate Denlinger 3, Smith 2

JV - Warsaw def. Northridge 31-29, 25-12

Kills - Denlinger 5, Jill Kreinbrink 5, Selina Long 3, Amber Addair 2, Valerie Leek 1

Assists - Kate Miller 14

Digs - Long 16, Denlinger 7, Kreinbrink 4, Johanna Habegger 3, Kasie Conley 3, Leek 2, Addair 2, Miller 1, Jessica Sands 1

Blocks - Denlinger 3, Miller 2, Kreinbrink 2, Long 1, Addair 1

Service points - Miller 11, Denlinger 6, Long 6, Addair 4, Amanda Engel 2, Kreinbrink 2, Conley 2 [[In-content Ad]]