Wawasee Wins Volleyball Sectional Opener
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Thursday night's sectional opener against West Noble was a microcosm of Wawasee's season. The Warriors were up and down, but managed a 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-9, 15-11 win in the Wawasee volleyball sectional.
Wawasee came out flat and fell behind 6-1 early. Wawasee battled back but couldn't overcome some solid play by West Noble and its own mistakes.
The Warriors took a 7-6 lead in the first game but couldn't remain consistent enough to win.
The second game saw a completely different Wawasee squad. The Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back on its way to a 25-16 win. The game was highlighted by several powerful spikes by Shawn Knafel and Krista Spearman.
Wawasee recently moved from a 6-1 formation to a 5-2 formation due to injury and illness. Warrior head coach Amy Miller worries that shift may be something other teams may try and take advantage of.
At least against West Noble, the Warriors didn't appear vulnerable. When Wawasee struggled it was because of its own mistakes or the outstanding play of West Noble's Maira Pizana.
Pizana, who is listed at 5-foot-7, played like a six-footer. She attacked the net and dug out several balls on good Warrior attacks.
"She's a tough player. She really goes at us. For as short as she is, she can get up. We prepared for her all week," said Miller of Pizana.
But Wawasee had its own weapons. Knafel finished with 20 kills on the evening. Amber Timmons, playing libero, finished with 21 digs Thursday night. Jess Signorelli, who is taking the place of Kim Miller, finished with 39 assists. Miller has been out since the middle of the season due to illness.
Tied at a game apiece, West Noble raced out to a 10-5 lead in the third game and never looked back. Pizana had two aces in the game, as the Warriors struggled to get going both defensively and offensively.
Wawasee did cut the lead to 17-15 at one point, but unforced errors and mental miscues did the Warriors in to the tune of 25-22 in the third game.
"We've been inconsistent," said Miller. "It has to do with how young we are. But we've just been up and down all year."
The Warriors were up in the fourth game after jumping out to a 12-2 lead. The Warriors dominated every aspect of the fourth game and took advantage of timid play by the Chargers. Wawasee attacked the net as hard as it had all night and it paid off in quick points.
With the match score knotted up at 2-2, the teams went to the standard 15-point fifth game.
The Warriors jumped out early and then had trouble closing.
Wawasee moved out to a 13-7 lead before West Noble scored four of the next five points. Finally, like the Warriors had done earlier in the year, Wawasee topped West Noble.
This win held more weight, however, as the Warriors, 13-19 overall, will take on NorthWood in the sectional semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m. Wawasee lost to NorthWood earlier in the year.
"They want blood," said Miller of her team. "I told them I've done everything I can do. Now it's up to them."
WAWASEE DEF. WEST NOBLE 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-9, 15-11
(Wawasee leaders)
Assists -ÊJess Signorelli 39
Blocks -ÊKrista Spearman 9, Janae Stewart 4
Aces - Katie Shoemaker 4
Kills - Shawn Knafel 20, Jessie Wolf 14, Spearman 8
Digs -ÊAmber Timmons 21, Erin Doty 15, Signorelli 10 [[In-content Ad]]
SYRACUSE - Thursday night's sectional opener against West Noble was a microcosm of Wawasee's season. The Warriors were up and down, but managed a 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-9, 15-11 win in the Wawasee volleyball sectional.
Wawasee came out flat and fell behind 6-1 early. Wawasee battled back but couldn't overcome some solid play by West Noble and its own mistakes.
The Warriors took a 7-6 lead in the first game but couldn't remain consistent enough to win.
The second game saw a completely different Wawasee squad. The Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back on its way to a 25-16 win. The game was highlighted by several powerful spikes by Shawn Knafel and Krista Spearman.
Wawasee recently moved from a 6-1 formation to a 5-2 formation due to injury and illness. Warrior head coach Amy Miller worries that shift may be something other teams may try and take advantage of.
At least against West Noble, the Warriors didn't appear vulnerable. When Wawasee struggled it was because of its own mistakes or the outstanding play of West Noble's Maira Pizana.
Pizana, who is listed at 5-foot-7, played like a six-footer. She attacked the net and dug out several balls on good Warrior attacks.
"She's a tough player. She really goes at us. For as short as she is, she can get up. We prepared for her all week," said Miller of Pizana.
But Wawasee had its own weapons. Knafel finished with 20 kills on the evening. Amber Timmons, playing libero, finished with 21 digs Thursday night. Jess Signorelli, who is taking the place of Kim Miller, finished with 39 assists. Miller has been out since the middle of the season due to illness.
Tied at a game apiece, West Noble raced out to a 10-5 lead in the third game and never looked back. Pizana had two aces in the game, as the Warriors struggled to get going both defensively and offensively.
Wawasee did cut the lead to 17-15 at one point, but unforced errors and mental miscues did the Warriors in to the tune of 25-22 in the third game.
"We've been inconsistent," said Miller. "It has to do with how young we are. But we've just been up and down all year."
The Warriors were up in the fourth game after jumping out to a 12-2 lead. The Warriors dominated every aspect of the fourth game and took advantage of timid play by the Chargers. Wawasee attacked the net as hard as it had all night and it paid off in quick points.
With the match score knotted up at 2-2, the teams went to the standard 15-point fifth game.
The Warriors jumped out early and then had trouble closing.
Wawasee moved out to a 13-7 lead before West Noble scored four of the next five points. Finally, like the Warriors had done earlier in the year, Wawasee topped West Noble.
This win held more weight, however, as the Warriors, 13-19 overall, will take on NorthWood in the sectional semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m. Wawasee lost to NorthWood earlier in the year.
"They want blood," said Miller of her team. "I told them I've done everything I can do. Now it's up to them."
WAWASEE DEF. WEST NOBLE 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-9, 15-11
(Wawasee leaders)
Assists -ÊJess Signorelli 39
Blocks -ÊKrista Spearman 9, Janae Stewart 4
Aces - Katie Shoemaker 4
Kills - Shawn Knafel 20, Jessie Wolf 14, Spearman 8
Digs -ÊAmber Timmons 21, Erin Doty 15, Signorelli 10 [[In-content Ad]]