On an evening when seven volleyball players were honored, Warsaw made Senior Night special by defeating Lakeland 15-12, 15-4.

In game one, Warsaw took an early 2-0 lead before Lakeland's Jennifer Calhoun served up four straight points. Then senior Andrea Saldivar stepped to the serving line and tied the score at 4-all.

After seven possession changes, Lakeland went on a five-point run and took a 9-4 lead.

"It wasn't our normal lineup tonight," said Warsaw coach Tanya Coon. "We were trying to get all the seniors in the lineup. The girls were playing positions they do not normally play. That was probably part of it (falling behind). It was also very emotional because it was Senior Night."

Then Warsaw sophomore Nicole DeFord, and seniors Lindsay Woods and Kara Kesler combined to tie the score at 9-all.

Senior Amie Poling stepped to the line next and served one point to give the Tigers their first lead since the beginning of the game, 10-9.

However, Lakeland still had some fight left. Kristin Merrifield stepped up for the Lakers and served three straight points to return the lead to Lakeland, 12-10.

Mayra Sells took Warsaw within one point, 12-11, and then Ashley Hart gave the Tigers the lead when she served two points to make the score 13-12 in the Tigers' favor.

Woods stepped to the line and served the last two points to give Warsaw the 15-12 victory.

The start of game two was almost identical to that of the first. Warsaw took a small lead, and then Lakeland tied the game at four.

However, what came next was very different fromt he first game. While Lakeland scored first after a long string of possession changes in game one, Warsaw turned the tables in game two.

The score was knotted at 4 for nine possessions, but when Warsaw junior Abby Sumpter stepped to the line for her serve, she secured a 6-4 lead for the Tigers.

It was all Warsaw after that. Saldivar and Poling served up three points to increase the Tiger advantage to 9-4.

Mechelle Henderson ended the game with six straight serves to give Warsaw the 15-4 win.

Kesler led the team with 10 kills and eight digs, while Poling added 21 assists and 10 digs. Woods added eight kills, eight digs, one block and one ace.

"This was a whole team win," said Coon. "Everyone played well as a whole. It wasn't a normal night. We have only practiced with this lineup once, so the girls were just not in their comfort zones. But they did well in their positions tonight."

Warsaw improves to 23-8 overall, while Lakeland falls to 18-12. Warsaw will play in the sectional Saturday.

WARSAW def. LAKELAND 15-12, 15-4

Warsaw leadersÊ

Assists -ÊAmie Poling 21, Abby Sumpter 11

Blocks -ÊAbby Sumpter 1, Lindsay Woods 1, Kyla Stanley 1

Kills -ÊKara Kesler 10, Lindsay Woods 8, Kristen DeGeeter 6

Digs -ÊAmie Poling 10, Lindsay Woods 8, Kara Kesler 8

Aces -ÊLindsay Woods 1, Amie Poling 1, Kara Kesler 1

JV -ÊWARSAW def. LAKELAND 15-11, 15-5

Warsaw leaders

Assists -ÊHeather Barrett 26

Blocks -ÊMichelle DeGeeter 5 solo, Jaclyn Leininger 3 (2 solo)

Kills -ÊMichelle DeGeeter 10, Krystan Klotz 6, Jaclyn Leininger 5

Digs -ÊCassie Harding 5,Jessica Davis 5, Amanda Poling 4

Aces - Grace Beck 2, Jessica Davis 2, Heather Barrett 1

Points -ÊJessica Davis 15, Grace Beck 7, Heather Barrett 5 [[In-content Ad]]