Tiger Spikers Drop First Match Of Season
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
What at first seemed like a match destined for five games turned into a rout as Elkhart Memorial dispatched host Warsaw 25-23, 25-15, 25-11 in volleyball action Thursday night.
The Tigers were aggressive and remained in system during the first game despite being unable to string together more than three points at a time.
Senior Tasia Smith served the Tigers into a 19-19 tie before the Crimson Chargers went on a 4-1 run to reach 23.
Warsaw rallied to trail 24-23 when Elkhart Memorial coach Jacquie Rost called a timeout. Tiger senior Kristin Conley's service error ended the first match with Elkhart Memorial escaping 25-23.
The Chargers went on a 9-1 run midway through the second game that essentially put the game away early.
Smith scored two straight points for the Tigers after Elkhart Memorial's run. The second of which was a thunderous spike that for a moment seemed to ignite the Tigers.
It was to no avail however as Elkhart Memorial continued its dominant offensive performance.
The trio of Brandi McAllister, Sarah Dalrymple and Ashley Price proved to be too much up front for the Tigers to handle.
Price's jump serve overpowered Warsaw at times while McAllister powerful attacking was too much for the Tigers to handle.
Senior Kim Clay led the Tigers with three kills while racking up four service points. Smith, Clay and junior Danielle DeGeeter proved to be the steadiest forces for Warsaw.
Noelle Scrafton, a senior, led the Tigers with seven service points while DeGeeter paced Warsaw with six assists.
Smith and Kate Denlinger had Warsaw's two lone blocks of the evening.
Warsaw head coach Doug West believes the reason his team progressively struggled was the improved offensive production of Elkhart Memorial.
"They're serving got on track with each game," said West. "We had trouble with it and that kept us out of system. We were kind of playing on our heels."
It also hurt the Tigers that as Elkhart Memorial became more aggressive with strong serves and powerful returns it lessened the ability of Warsaw to string together more than two points at a time.
The Chargers have been the team to beat in the Northern Lakes Conference recently and that showed Thursday as Elkhart Memorial was able to hand Warsaw its first loss of the season.
The Tigers came out strong to start the season with wins over Northfield and Churubusco as well as winning the Lafayette Jefferson Invitational.
Warsaw's start could be considered surprising since the Tigers lost talented players such as Rebekah Reichard and Kara Mayer to graduation and Julie Seiss to a shoulder injury.
Despite those losses, West believes this year's team can be successful and showed what it can do in the first game with Elkhart Memorial.
"I thought we played a spirited first game," said West. "We served well and transitioned well."
The Tigers look to get back on track Tuesday when they travel to South Whitley and tangle with the Whitko Wildcats. Junior varsity action is set for 6:00 p.m.
ELK. MEMORIAL DEF. WARSAW 25-23, 25-15, 25-11
(Warsaw leaders)
Kills -ÊKim Clay 3, Noelle Scrafton 2, Tasia Smith 2, Danielle DeGeeter 1
Digs - Clay 5, Selina Long 5, Kristin Conley 2
Service points -ÊScrafton 7, DeGeeter 5, Conley 4, Allison Reichard 4, Clay 4, Smith 4
Assists -ÊDeGeeter 6, Reichard 2
Blocks -ÊSmith 1, Kate Denlinger 1
JV -ÊElkhart Memorial def. Warsaw 25-18, 25-16
9th - Elkhart Memorial def. Warsaw 25-24, 25-16, 15-7 [[In-content Ad]]
What at first seemed like a match destined for five games turned into a rout as Elkhart Memorial dispatched host Warsaw 25-23, 25-15, 25-11 in volleyball action Thursday night.
The Tigers were aggressive and remained in system during the first game despite being unable to string together more than three points at a time.
Senior Tasia Smith served the Tigers into a 19-19 tie before the Crimson Chargers went on a 4-1 run to reach 23.
Warsaw rallied to trail 24-23 when Elkhart Memorial coach Jacquie Rost called a timeout. Tiger senior Kristin Conley's service error ended the first match with Elkhart Memorial escaping 25-23.
The Chargers went on a 9-1 run midway through the second game that essentially put the game away early.
Smith scored two straight points for the Tigers after Elkhart Memorial's run. The second of which was a thunderous spike that for a moment seemed to ignite the Tigers.
It was to no avail however as Elkhart Memorial continued its dominant offensive performance.
The trio of Brandi McAllister, Sarah Dalrymple and Ashley Price proved to be too much up front for the Tigers to handle.
Price's jump serve overpowered Warsaw at times while McAllister powerful attacking was too much for the Tigers to handle.
Senior Kim Clay led the Tigers with three kills while racking up four service points. Smith, Clay and junior Danielle DeGeeter proved to be the steadiest forces for Warsaw.
Noelle Scrafton, a senior, led the Tigers with seven service points while DeGeeter paced Warsaw with six assists.
Smith and Kate Denlinger had Warsaw's two lone blocks of the evening.
Warsaw head coach Doug West believes the reason his team progressively struggled was the improved offensive production of Elkhart Memorial.
"They're serving got on track with each game," said West. "We had trouble with it and that kept us out of system. We were kind of playing on our heels."
It also hurt the Tigers that as Elkhart Memorial became more aggressive with strong serves and powerful returns it lessened the ability of Warsaw to string together more than two points at a time.
The Chargers have been the team to beat in the Northern Lakes Conference recently and that showed Thursday as Elkhart Memorial was able to hand Warsaw its first loss of the season.
The Tigers came out strong to start the season with wins over Northfield and Churubusco as well as winning the Lafayette Jefferson Invitational.
Warsaw's start could be considered surprising since the Tigers lost talented players such as Rebekah Reichard and Kara Mayer to graduation and Julie Seiss to a shoulder injury.
Despite those losses, West believes this year's team can be successful and showed what it can do in the first game with Elkhart Memorial.
"I thought we played a spirited first game," said West. "We served well and transitioned well."
The Tigers look to get back on track Tuesday when they travel to South Whitley and tangle with the Whitko Wildcats. Junior varsity action is set for 6:00 p.m.
ELK. MEMORIAL DEF. WARSAW 25-23, 25-15, 25-11
(Warsaw leaders)
Kills -ÊKim Clay 3, Noelle Scrafton 2, Tasia Smith 2, Danielle DeGeeter 1
Digs - Clay 5, Selina Long 5, Kristin Conley 2
Service points -ÊScrafton 7, DeGeeter 5, Conley 4, Allison Reichard 4, Clay 4, Smith 4
Assists -ÊDeGeeter 6, Reichard 2
Blocks -ÊSmith 1, Kate Denlinger 1
JV -ÊElkhart Memorial def. Warsaw 25-18, 25-16
9th - Elkhart Memorial def. Warsaw 25-24, 25-16, 15-7 [[In-content Ad]]