FORT WAYNE -ÊThe Warsaw Tiger volleyball roster reads like a who's who of recent Tiger sports history. With names like Seiss, DeGeeter, Barrett, Clay, and Krizmanich, the lineage was there.

Saturday the ladies did what few of their siblings could do: capture a sectional title.

The Tigers began their day against an upstart Fort Wayne Carroll squad.

Carroll, the sight of the sectional, provided little advantage for the Chargers. Despite getting out to early leads in the first two games,the Chargers fell to the quicker and more athletic Tigers. After two competitive games of 21-18 and 21-17, the Tigers imposed their will and superior talent in the deciding game (21-6).

Afterwards Warsaw coach Doug West kept things in perspective.

"We know we have to win six games to win the sectional and we took care of three right here," said West.

Saturday night Columbia City was the lone obstacle standing between the Tigers and their first sectional crown since the 2000 campaign.

Earlier in the year the two teams played in a five-game thriller won by Warsaw.

The senior-laden Columbia City squad looked tight and only faintly resembled the squad that faced Warsaw earlier in the year.

On the other hand, Warsaw looked loose and unfazed at the prospect of a championship.

The intensity filled the small gym from the start.

Both teams felt each other out early with Warsaw holding the slight edge 9-6.

Then the floodgates opened. With sophomore Julie Seiss serving, the Tigers rattled off nine straight points. Junior setter Cheyenne Runnells was sharp, which made Rebekah Reichard and Michelle DeGeeter look even sharper. The duo that will be wreaking havoc come basketball season gave a preview of their athletic prowess, launching the ball over the net and down Columbia City's throat.

After the Tigers coasted to a 21-8 win in the first game, the short three-minute break in action did little to cool off Warsaw.

As the second game progressed, the Tigers showed their athletic superiority.

As the second game drew on the much-contested match between the two squads seemed more like an aberration.

On game point, Reichard made a diving save, which then led to DeGeeter finishing off the Eagles in the second game 21-14.

The third game proved to be the final but most exciting.

The Tigers jumped to a 9-4 lead before things turned. Their play became sloppy and the veteran Columbia City squad took advantage.

With seven seniors fighting to play another day, Columbia City tied things up at 9.

Both teams went back and forth until West was tired of what he was seeing and called a timeout.

"I tried to light a fire," said West of his message during the timeout. "We made three attacking errors in a row. I felt they need a kick in the game pants. This game is one of momentum."

From that point on Warsaw curried momentum's favor. Immediately sharper, the Tigers began grinding out points.

Columbia City, no longer able to match the Tigers' athleticism, saw their hopes of the school's first sectional crown in 18 years slip away.

Runnells set the final point, Seiss drove the winning point home, and the celebration ensued.

The two Warsaw seniors, DeGeeter and Heather Barrett accepted the sectional crown as the euphoria bounded.

"We're going to enjoy it tonight and tomorrow and we'll start to think about (regionals) Monday," said West.

"But tonight we played a great match. We couldn't have played much better."

Warsaw, now 27-9, will need to see if they can exceed Saturday's performance when they travel to Muncie Central to take on Fort Wayne Snider. The Panthers disposed of Warsaw 3-1 earlier in the year. Then they would most likely face the 35-0 and defending champion host school. [[In-content Ad]]