Tiger Spikers Repeat As Sectional Champs
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
COLUMBIA CITY - Warsaw's new head girls basketball coach, John Snyder, was on hand to watch several of his players take on Carroll (Fort Wayne) in the sectional volleyball championship Saturday night at Columbia City High School.
Snyder will have to wait to work on x's and o's, as the Tigers still have some business to take care of on the volleyball court, after a 25-20, 25-14, 25-12 triumph over the Chargers.
The Tigers used effective serving and aggressive play to repeat as sectional champions. Last year, Warsaw defeated host Carroll for its first sectional crown since 2000.
And when Cheyenne Runnells hit a deep serve that was eventually returned long by Carroll's Sarah VanCamp, the Tigers began to celebrate a three-game win and a second straight regional berth.
Early on it appeared a three-game victory by either side wasn't in the cards.
Coach Doug West's squad got off to a shaky start in the first game against the Chargers. Buoyed by some long points, Carroll jumped out to an early 7-4 lead.
Warsaw rallied and after a timeout down 17-15, the Tigers made their move.
The Tigers went on a 6-1 run highlighted by three powerful spikes by Julie Seiss, Tasia Smith and Rebekah Reichard (all three played basketball last year on the state finals team) to win the first game 25-20.
Volleyball, like basketball, comes down to controlling the tempo.
Warsaw did just that in the second game, jumping out to a 7-3 lead before Carroll coach Star Trahin called a timeout.
By that time, the momentum had completely shifted in favor of the Tigers.
"I felt like we served and passed well. Over time I just think that we were able to get them out of system," said West.
In fact, Warsaw committed just one service fault in the final two games of the match.
After the first Chargers' timeout in the second game, Warsaw continued to exert its pressure on Carroll. The Tigers rallied off a 7-1 run, capped off by an unforced error by Carroll's Darcie Faylor, to win 25-14.
Looking to avoid any sort of letdown in the third game, the Tigers pounced on the Chargers early. Warsaw went down 2-0 before rallying and scoring nine straight points.
The Tigers moved to 11-4 after an ace by Runnells and 19-10 after a slam by Kim Clay. Reichard nailed one more spike before West took her out. Reichard was strong all game and finished with 13 kills for the match.
Danielle DeGeeter led the Tigers in assists with 29 while Seiss had a team-high 12 digs. Kara Mayer, another member of last year's state finals basketball squad, led Warsaw with 12 service points.
Earlier in the day, Warsaw took care of East Noble to advance to Saturday night's championship.
The Tigers dominated in the first game with a 25-9 win before the Knights came back and made things competitive. Warsaw dominated the second game serving but struggled maintaining long points. Warsaw rode two aces by Seiss late to grab the 25-21 win.
Warsaw won the third and deciding game 25-18.
Seiss led the Tigers against East Noble with 12 digs and five blocks. Reichard was tops in kills with seven while DeGeeter had 11 assists.
As a whole, West was pleased with his team's performance in both matches.
"I felt like we had a lot of experience coming in. We're a well-rounded team and play well together. I'm just real happy to come out with two 3-0 wins on the day. When you see all the work you've put in produce the result you want, it's a great feeling. I'm just really happy for the girls," said West.
The Tigers, 23-13 overall and 5-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference, take on a tough 28-8 Fort Wayne Northrop team Saturday at the Huntington North regional. Northrop upended Fort Wayne Snider, a team that beat Warsaw in three games earlier this season.
WARSAW DEF. FW CARROLL 25-20, 25-14, 25-12 (Championship)
(Warsaw leaders)
Kills - Rebekah Reichard 13, Tasia Smith 9, Julie Seiss 5, Cynthia Park 4, Kara Mayer 4, Danielle DeGeeter 1, Kim Clay 1
Assists - DeGeeter 29, Reichard 2, Seiss 1
Digs - Seiss 12, DeGeeter 10, Clay 8, Cheyenne Runnells 6, Mayer 5, Reichard 4, Noelle Scrafton 2, Kristen Conley 1, Smith 1
Blocks - Smith 4, Seiss 3, Reichard 3, DeGeeter 1
Service points - Mayer 12, DeGeeter 11, Runnells 10, Seiss 3, Clay 3, Lindsay Francis 2, Reichard 2
WARSAW DEF. EAST NOBLE 25-9, 25-21, 25-18
(Warsaw leaders)
Kills - Rebekah Reichard 7, Cynthia Park 5, Julie Seiss 5, Kara Mayer 4, Tasia Smith 2, Kim Conley 1, Danielle DeGeeter 1
Assists - DeGeeter 11, Cheyenne Runnells 6, Park 1, Reichard 1,
Digs -ÊSeiss 12, Runnells 11, Mayer 7, Reichard 5, Clay 3, DeGeeter 2, Park 2, Lindsay Francis 2, Noelle Scrafton 2, Smith 1
Blocks - Seiss 5, Reichard 5, Mayer 2, Clay 2, Park 2, DeGeeter 2, Runnells 1, Smith 1
Service points - Runnells 12, Clay 8, Seiss 7, Reichard 7, DeGeeter 4, Conley 3, Scrafton 2, Mayer 1 [[In-content Ad]]
COLUMBIA CITY - Warsaw's new head girls basketball coach, John Snyder, was on hand to watch several of his players take on Carroll (Fort Wayne) in the sectional volleyball championship Saturday night at Columbia City High School.
Snyder will have to wait to work on x's and o's, as the Tigers still have some business to take care of on the volleyball court, after a 25-20, 25-14, 25-12 triumph over the Chargers.
The Tigers used effective serving and aggressive play to repeat as sectional champions. Last year, Warsaw defeated host Carroll for its first sectional crown since 2000.
And when Cheyenne Runnells hit a deep serve that was eventually returned long by Carroll's Sarah VanCamp, the Tigers began to celebrate a three-game win and a second straight regional berth.
Early on it appeared a three-game victory by either side wasn't in the cards.
Coach Doug West's squad got off to a shaky start in the first game against the Chargers. Buoyed by some long points, Carroll jumped out to an early 7-4 lead.
Warsaw rallied and after a timeout down 17-15, the Tigers made their move.
The Tigers went on a 6-1 run highlighted by three powerful spikes by Julie Seiss, Tasia Smith and Rebekah Reichard (all three played basketball last year on the state finals team) to win the first game 25-20.
Volleyball, like basketball, comes down to controlling the tempo.
Warsaw did just that in the second game, jumping out to a 7-3 lead before Carroll coach Star Trahin called a timeout.
By that time, the momentum had completely shifted in favor of the Tigers.
"I felt like we served and passed well. Over time I just think that we were able to get them out of system," said West.
In fact, Warsaw committed just one service fault in the final two games of the match.
After the first Chargers' timeout in the second game, Warsaw continued to exert its pressure on Carroll. The Tigers rallied off a 7-1 run, capped off by an unforced error by Carroll's Darcie Faylor, to win 25-14.
Looking to avoid any sort of letdown in the third game, the Tigers pounced on the Chargers early. Warsaw went down 2-0 before rallying and scoring nine straight points.
The Tigers moved to 11-4 after an ace by Runnells and 19-10 after a slam by Kim Clay. Reichard nailed one more spike before West took her out. Reichard was strong all game and finished with 13 kills for the match.
Danielle DeGeeter led the Tigers in assists with 29 while Seiss had a team-high 12 digs. Kara Mayer, another member of last year's state finals basketball squad, led Warsaw with 12 service points.
Earlier in the day, Warsaw took care of East Noble to advance to Saturday night's championship.
The Tigers dominated in the first game with a 25-9 win before the Knights came back and made things competitive. Warsaw dominated the second game serving but struggled maintaining long points. Warsaw rode two aces by Seiss late to grab the 25-21 win.
Warsaw won the third and deciding game 25-18.
Seiss led the Tigers against East Noble with 12 digs and five blocks. Reichard was tops in kills with seven while DeGeeter had 11 assists.
As a whole, West was pleased with his team's performance in both matches.
"I felt like we had a lot of experience coming in. We're a well-rounded team and play well together. I'm just real happy to come out with two 3-0 wins on the day. When you see all the work you've put in produce the result you want, it's a great feeling. I'm just really happy for the girls," said West.
The Tigers, 23-13 overall and 5-2 in the Northern Lakes Conference, take on a tough 28-8 Fort Wayne Northrop team Saturday at the Huntington North regional. Northrop upended Fort Wayne Snider, a team that beat Warsaw in three games earlier this season.
WARSAW DEF. FW CARROLL 25-20, 25-14, 25-12 (Championship)
(Warsaw leaders)
Kills - Rebekah Reichard 13, Tasia Smith 9, Julie Seiss 5, Cynthia Park 4, Kara Mayer 4, Danielle DeGeeter 1, Kim Clay 1
Assists - DeGeeter 29, Reichard 2, Seiss 1
Digs - Seiss 12, DeGeeter 10, Clay 8, Cheyenne Runnells 6, Mayer 5, Reichard 4, Noelle Scrafton 2, Kristen Conley 1, Smith 1
Blocks - Smith 4, Seiss 3, Reichard 3, DeGeeter 1
Service points - Mayer 12, DeGeeter 11, Runnells 10, Seiss 3, Clay 3, Lindsay Francis 2, Reichard 2
WARSAW DEF. EAST NOBLE 25-9, 25-21, 25-18
(Warsaw leaders)
Kills - Rebekah Reichard 7, Cynthia Park 5, Julie Seiss 5, Kara Mayer 4, Tasia Smith 2, Kim Conley 1, Danielle DeGeeter 1
Assists - DeGeeter 11, Cheyenne Runnells 6, Park 1, Reichard 1,
Digs -ÊSeiss 12, Runnells 11, Mayer 7, Reichard 5, Clay 3, DeGeeter 2, Park 2, Lindsay Francis 2, Noelle Scrafton 2, Smith 1
Blocks - Seiss 5, Reichard 5, Mayer 2, Clay 2, Park 2, DeGeeter 2, Runnells 1, Smith 1
Service points - Runnells 12, Clay 8, Seiss 7, Reichard 7, DeGeeter 4, Conley 3, Scrafton 2, Mayer 1 [[In-content Ad]]