Warsaw Girls Win Seventh Straight Sectional Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - The final score showed Warsaw's girls tennis team beating the host Warriors 3-2 in Saturday's championship match of the Wawasee Sectional.
In reality, it wasn't that close.
A match that started shortly at 10 a.m., the Tigers didn't pose for photos with the trophy until approximately 12:45 p.m.
Because of some quick work by Warsaw's doubles teams, as well as No. 3 singles player Lauren Piper, the outcome of the match was decided in about an hour.
Warsaw's No. 1 doubles team of seniors Gabby Schlitt and Jill Harrison wasted no time in giving the Tigers their first team point, beating Wawasee senior Allison Thornburgh and junior Abby Cox 6-0, 6-1 in litte more than 25 minutes.
"They were very focused," Warsaw coach Rick Orban said of Schlitt and Harrison. "They're playing very well right now. The last two matches they've played great. They're both seniors and they played like it."
The Tigers' No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Erin Coppes and senior Karley Sasso finished shortly thereafter, giving Warsaw a 2-0 lead in the team score after beating sophomores Kindra Wright and Brooke Kaiser 6-1, 6-0.
"Our doubles teams have been non-existant," said first-year Wawasee coach Les Phipps. "It's been a learning process for all the girls. It all matters what they want to do. You're only going to get out of them what they want to give."
Phipps said he has enjoyed working with the girls and noted that for Wawasee to challenge for a sectional championship offseason work will be key.
While Warsaw improved to 9-7 on the season, winning its seventh straight sectional championship, Wawasee finished its season with a 2-14 record.
Warsaw advanced to the sectional championship match by beating Churubusco 4-1 Thursday, while Wawasee upended Tippecanoe Valley 4-1 in the semifinal round.
Saturday's third team point, the match that gave the Tigers the sectional championship, came at No. 3 singles, where Piper beat Wawasee junior Brooke Tait 6-1, 6-1.
"This is really special this year," Orban said of winning the sectional title, noting the youth of his team. "At the beginning of the season, we didn't expect to do it. There's been a lot of improvement, and that goes all the way through."
In the fourth match to finish, Wawasee senior Rachael Fleagle defeated Tiger senior 6-3, 5-7 in a match that ended with an injury default.
Orban, who wasn't allowed to comment on Swank's injury, said he tried to talk her into defaulting after the first set. He said, however, that Swank wanted to prove that she could come back and win, which she did in the second set.
In the final match to finish, Wawasee freshman Kelsey Mark upended Warsaw junior Anushri Gokhale 4-6, 6-4, 6-6 (7-1).
"It was a good thing our No. 3 singles player, Lauren Piper, was able to finish it," said Orban. "That took the pressure off Anushri. She (Gokhale) didn't have to win for us to win the sectional championship."
Warsaw will play for its seventh straight regional championship Tuesday at Northridge. The Tigers will open regional play against DeKalb (12-3).
Bethany Christian (14-2) and Elkhart Central (15-0) will battle in Tuesday's other semifinal match. The winners will play Wedneday for the championship.
"It'll be tough," Orban said of his team's chances of winning the regional title. "Unlike the last six years, we're not going to be the favorite. That's a nice change."
Fleagle advanced to individual sectional action at Northridge, as did Churubusco No. 1 singles player Lauren Mey. Tippecanoe Valley's No. 1 doubles team of Maribeth Martin and Andrea Kindig will compete in the doubles sectional at Northridge.
WARSAW 3, WAWASEE 2
Singles
No. 1 - Rachel Fleagle (Wawa) def. Alicia Swank 6-3, 5-7 (injury default)
No. 2 - Kelsey Mark (Wawa) def. Anushri Gokhale 4-6, 6-4, 6-6 (7-1)
No. 3 - Lauren Piper (War) def. Brooke Tait 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Gabby Schlitt/Jill Harrison (War) def. Allison Thornburgh/Abby Cox 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 - Erin Coppes/Karley Sasso (War) def. Kindra Wright/Brooke Kaiser 6-1, 6-0 [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - The final score showed Warsaw's girls tennis team beating the host Warriors 3-2 in Saturday's championship match of the Wawasee Sectional.
In reality, it wasn't that close.
A match that started shortly at 10 a.m., the Tigers didn't pose for photos with the trophy until approximately 12:45 p.m.
Because of some quick work by Warsaw's doubles teams, as well as No. 3 singles player Lauren Piper, the outcome of the match was decided in about an hour.
Warsaw's No. 1 doubles team of seniors Gabby Schlitt and Jill Harrison wasted no time in giving the Tigers their first team point, beating Wawasee senior Allison Thornburgh and junior Abby Cox 6-0, 6-1 in litte more than 25 minutes.
"They were very focused," Warsaw coach Rick Orban said of Schlitt and Harrison. "They're playing very well right now. The last two matches they've played great. They're both seniors and they played like it."
The Tigers' No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Erin Coppes and senior Karley Sasso finished shortly thereafter, giving Warsaw a 2-0 lead in the team score after beating sophomores Kindra Wright and Brooke Kaiser 6-1, 6-0.
"Our doubles teams have been non-existant," said first-year Wawasee coach Les Phipps. "It's been a learning process for all the girls. It all matters what they want to do. You're only going to get out of them what they want to give."
Phipps said he has enjoyed working with the girls and noted that for Wawasee to challenge for a sectional championship offseason work will be key.
While Warsaw improved to 9-7 on the season, winning its seventh straight sectional championship, Wawasee finished its season with a 2-14 record.
Warsaw advanced to the sectional championship match by beating Churubusco 4-1 Thursday, while Wawasee upended Tippecanoe Valley 4-1 in the semifinal round.
Saturday's third team point, the match that gave the Tigers the sectional championship, came at No. 3 singles, where Piper beat Wawasee junior Brooke Tait 6-1, 6-1.
"This is really special this year," Orban said of winning the sectional title, noting the youth of his team. "At the beginning of the season, we didn't expect to do it. There's been a lot of improvement, and that goes all the way through."
In the fourth match to finish, Wawasee senior Rachael Fleagle defeated Tiger senior 6-3, 5-7 in a match that ended with an injury default.
Orban, who wasn't allowed to comment on Swank's injury, said he tried to talk her into defaulting after the first set. He said, however, that Swank wanted to prove that she could come back and win, which she did in the second set.
In the final match to finish, Wawasee freshman Kelsey Mark upended Warsaw junior Anushri Gokhale 4-6, 6-4, 6-6 (7-1).
"It was a good thing our No. 3 singles player, Lauren Piper, was able to finish it," said Orban. "That took the pressure off Anushri. She (Gokhale) didn't have to win for us to win the sectional championship."
Warsaw will play for its seventh straight regional championship Tuesday at Northridge. The Tigers will open regional play against DeKalb (12-3).
Bethany Christian (14-2) and Elkhart Central (15-0) will battle in Tuesday's other semifinal match. The winners will play Wedneday for the championship.
"It'll be tough," Orban said of his team's chances of winning the regional title. "Unlike the last six years, we're not going to be the favorite. That's a nice change."
Fleagle advanced to individual sectional action at Northridge, as did Churubusco No. 1 singles player Lauren Mey. Tippecanoe Valley's No. 1 doubles team of Maribeth Martin and Andrea Kindig will compete in the doubles sectional at Northridge.
WARSAW 3, WAWASEE 2
Singles
No. 1 - Rachel Fleagle (Wawa) def. Alicia Swank 6-3, 5-7 (injury default)
No. 2 - Kelsey Mark (Wawa) def. Anushri Gokhale 4-6, 6-4, 6-6 (7-1)
No. 3 - Lauren Piper (War) def. Brooke Tait 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Gabby Schlitt/Jill Harrison (War) def. Allison Thornburgh/Abby Cox 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 - Erin Coppes/Karley Sasso (War) def. Kindra Wright/Brooke Kaiser 6-1, 6-0 [[In-content Ad]]