There are some nights in sports where everything is working. No matter what happens, a team can do no wrong. This was the feeling at the Tiger Den Thursday as the Warsaw volleyball team dominated Goshen 3-0 (25-18, 26-6, 25-13) to win its seventh straight game.
“I feel really confident with this group. We were challenged early on but that was very intentional,” Warsaw head volleyball coach Chandra Hepler said. “Our girls trust the process and they see that when we play a team that’s not up to the level that we’ve seen so far. I’m one of those coaches that’s never satisfied but it’s because when we get into certain situations, I want my players to be ready for anything.”
The Lady Tigers wasted no time showing off their superiority. Many of the game’s early points were determined up front, an area Warsaw has exceeded at all season long. Whether it was a massive rejection by Allison Chapman or a hardwood-denting kill for Maggie Hollon or Melaina Hawblitzel, the Lady Tigers scored four of the game’s first five points and jumped out to a nine point lead not long after.
“I’ve coached Maggie since she was ten years old and to see her go through the fire and come out so polished and successful is just an absolute treat to see,” Hepler said.
Once getting in front, Warsaw would stay there. Outside of a short run by the RedHawks here or there, the visitors were unable to get enough going to seriously trim into the deficit. Using domination at all three phases of play, Warsaw continued to cruise. The first set went by in a flash, with Hawblitzel putting the finishing touches on a 25-18 win with her third kill of the game.
The first point of game two was just as emphatic, with junior Krista Lauck sending a kill off of the head of the Goshen libero. Her teammates got in on the fun as well, as it seemed just about every player for Lady Tigers managed a kill as the team started game two on a 7-0 run.

    Senior Kenzie Chivington of Warsaw sets the ball during the second set of Thursday night's home game against Goshen. Photo by Gary Nieter
  

In what was another absolutely dominant set for Warsaw, senior Leah Henderson began to shine bright. Known for her uncanny ability up front at securing blocks, Henderson began getting it going offensively, leaving no chance for RedHawk players to return her earth-shattering kills.
“That’s the advantage of running a faster offense,” Hepler said. “We have such great ball control in the back line and when we can run quicker sets and create opportunities, our hitters have an open net in front of them and that’s what you saw tonight.”
Set two went by even quicker than the first as Warsaw showed no signs of slowing down, even getting better as the game went on. Ellie Hepler and Claire Reichenbach each had a couple of aces down the stretch as the Lady Tigers took a commanding 2-0 lead with a 25-6 win.
While Warsaw didn’t jump out to another commanding lead in game three, the home side were able to get in front after not too long. Fighting to stay alive, this was the best Goshen had played all night, keeping plays alive with some nice digs and forcing a few Lady Tiger errors up front. The visitors used this spurt to take their first lead of the night at 8-6.
The advantage was short lived. Warsaw would fire back with six straight points of their own and regain control. That was all the home side needed, as from that point on, things started clicking once again. Hollon, Hawblitzel and Henderson continued to carry the offense to the tune of “you can’t stop her” chants from the crowd. It seemed routine for Warsaw as the Lady Tiger put the finishing touches on a 25-13 game three win to remain undefeated in the Northern Lakes Conference.
Warsaw (9-5, 2-0) plays its next game Tuesday evening at Northridge.
“We’re in that lull of the season where you might only play one game a week and that’s where the mental side of things starts to come in. We’re happy our girls will be rested but we also want them challenging themselves so they can handle whatever is thrown their way.”