SYRACUSE -ÊAnyone who watched the Warsaw/Wawasee Northern Lakes Conference volleyball match Thursday in Syracuse was probably surprised that the score seemed so lopsided.

The Tigers defeated the Warriors 15-3, 15-9 in a match that was characterized by long volleys and many sideouts.

"We played with them," said Wawasee coach Jason Fleming, "but we just couldn't seem to score. I don't think the game was as lopsided as the score showed."

Wawasee came out strong against its NLC rival in the first game. Candice Brown and Staci VanLue combined for two points and put the Warriors up 2-0.

After several sideouts, Warsaw's Mechelle Henderson stepped to the line. Henderson, a sophomore new to the Tiger varsity lineup, served three straight points to give the Tigers a lead they held until the end of the game.

Wawasee got as close as 5-3 after Kathy Likens led the Warriors to one more point.

However, Andrea Saldivar, Henderson, and Amie Poling served up nine points to put the Tigers up 14-3.

Nicole DeFord, another sophomore new to the varsity lineup, served up game point and Warsaw won the first game 15-3.

"We played well," said Fleming. "But we hurt ourselves with some key service errors."

"We had a new lineup with some people who were playing varsity for the first time," said Warsaw coach Tanya Coon. "I think we played a good game. It was not our best, but overall we had a good game."

DeFord then started Warsaw's scoring again in the second game. She served two straight points to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.

But that lead was short lived. Kathy Likens served a pair of points to tie the score and then Bria Pletcher stepped in and led Wawasee to another pair to put the Warriors up 4-0.

Michelle DeGeeter tied the score at 4-all, but Kathy Likens tied the score at five on the next Wawasee rotation.

Then Amie Poling stepped to the line and started a Warsaw rally. Poling led the Tigers to four points to put the Tigers up 8-5. Then Abby Sumpter, Andrea Saldivar, and Henderson served one point each to give Warsaw an 11-5 advantage.

The Tigers went up 13-6 after Nicole DeFord served two more Warsaw points, but the Warriors were not ready to throw in the towel.

Brown and Kathy Likens combined for three Wawasee points to close the gap to 13-9.

"At times we were very aggressive with the ball," said Fleming. "We played well defensively, but we were not winning the long rallies."

However, senior Kristen DeGeeter ended the Warrior rally by serving two points and giving Warsaw the 15-9 win.

"It was a good game for us because we were always on offense and Wawasee was always on defense," said Coon. "We were getting balls and playing tough.

"Our seniors played well tonight. The sophomores played well, and we had one freshman in the lineup and she played well also. In fact, the whole team played really well."

"Warsaw is an experienced staff," said Fleming. "They play a lot of seniors in their lineup, and they play a lot of off-season ball. They have a very strong schedule early in the season."

Warsaw improves to 14-4 overall and 3-1 in NLC play, while Wawasee is 16-6 and 2-2 in the NLC.

WARSAW def. WAWASEE 15-3, 15-9

Wawasee leaders

Digs -ÊStaci VanLue 4, Kathy Likens 4, Jessie Korenstra 3, Kim Likens 3

Bocks -ÊJessica Leach 1, Candice Brown 1, Erica Auker

Aces -ÊKathy Likens 3

Kills -ÊJessica Leach 6, Staci VanLue 5, Kathy Likens 5

Assists -ÊCandice Brown 16

Warsaw leaders

Kills - Kara Kesler 10, Nicole DeFord 5, Lindsay Wood 4, Andrea Saldivar 4

Assists -ÊAbby Sumpter 20

Aces -ÊNicole DeFord 1, Mechelle Henderson 1

Digs -ÊMechelle Henderson 8, Amie Poling 6, Abby Sumpter 3

Blocks -ÊKara Kesler 11, Michelle DeGeeter 5, Abby Sumpter 7

JV -ÊWARSAW def. WAWASEE 15-10, 15-11

Wawasee leaders

Digs -ÊA. Schmucker 4

Aces -ÊA. Weybright 3, M. Cole 2

Kills -ÊJ. Higginbotham

Assists -ÊA. Weybright 8

Warsaw leaders

Kills -ÊJaclyn Leininger 8, Jennifer Simpson 5

Assists -ÊAmanda Poling

Digs -ÊJessica Davis 6, Krystan Klotz 6, Cassie Harding 5

Points -ÊKelsey Kline 11 points (2 aces), Amanda Poling 8 points (1 ace), Krystan Klotz 8 point (1 ace) [[In-content Ad]]