Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw's and Wawasee's volleyball teams entered Thursday's match with records below .500.
That's where the similarities started.
It's also where they ended.
Warsaw improved to 8-12 by downing Wawasee (7-16) 15-3, 15-7. The record that matters to the Tigers is 3-1, the one they own in the Northern Lakes Conference. Wawasee dropped to 1-4 in the NLC.
The result did not surprise Wawasee coach Jason Fleming, who will be the first to tell you how misleading Warsaw's record is.
"We knew we were rebuilding as soon as we started the season," he said. "We graduated a host of players. We knew this squad would take some abuse. It's not so much our ability but our experience.
"Warsaw plays one of the top schedules around. Every tournament they go to on the weekends has some of the best teams in the state. When they play conference schools, they're more than ready."
Indeed, if it is not the Mishawaka Invitational with four of the top five teams in the state, it is the Ben Davis Invitational. The Tigers have taken their lumps in these invitationals. But coach Jamie Byron repeatedly tells you the good far outweighs the bad in these tournaments because they get the Tigers ready to roll in the Northern Lakes Conference, ready to roll against opponents like Wawasee.
The name heard over Wawasee's public address system most often was Nancy Mason, who appeared to have mastered the art of splitting herself into triplets. She was everywhere at once.
Mason led Warsaw with nine kills and five blocks.
"Nancy Mason passed well and got a lot of sets because of good passes," Warsaw coach Jamie Byron said.
"Nancy Mason is just outstanding in the middle," Fleming said.
But Mason could not have dominated without her tag-team partner, senior setter Jessica Zaugg, the best caddy Mason could ask for.
Zaugg led Warsaw with 20 assists.
Although frustrating to his Warriors, Fleming appreciated the Zaugg-to-Mason connection.
"Jessica Zaugg," Fleming said, "puts the ball where it needs to go. Warsaw's kids are good players."
If Fleming sees one glaring difference between his team and Warsaw, it is Mason. Not only Mason, but the front line.
"We can pass and dig with anybody," Fleming said. "Right now the trouble is putting it away up front. That comes with experience."
Aah, that experience. This is why Byron is glad to send Warsaw to the Mishawaka Invitational, to the Ben Davis Invitational, to the Clinton Prairie Invitational.
"Wawasee's a young team," she said. "Really, I look at both teams as being young. Maybe ours is a little more experienced. Wawasee will have a good team in the future. Tonight, our experience is what did it."
WARSAW DEF. WAWASEE 15-3, 15-7
Warsaw kills leaders -ÊNancy Mason 9, Brooke Sutton 4, Nerecia Taylor 4, Liz Owens 3
Warsaw blocks leaders -ÊMason 5, Taylor 5
Warsaw digs leaders -ÊAmie Poling 12, Ryann Jones 9, Owens 7, Mason 7
Warsaw aces -ÊSutton 1, Owens 1, Poling 1, Jessica Zaugg 1
Warsaw assists leader -ÊZaugg 20
Wawasee kills leaders -ÊAngie Beer 3, Sara Frantz 3
Wawasee assists leader -ÊFrantz 6
Wawasee digs leaders -ÊBeer 6, Danielle Powell 4, Jennifer Mason 4
Wawasee blocks leader -ÊShanna Zolman 3
Records: Warsaw 8-12, 3-1 NLC; Wawasee 7-16, 1-4 NLC
JV: WARSAW DEF. WAWASEE 15-2, 15-5
Warsaw kills leaders -ÊKara Kesler 8, Myra Sells 4, Janna Knisely 3
Warsaw blocks leaders -ÊKesler 4, Sells 4
Warsaw digs leaders -ÊHilary O'Connell 6, Lindsay Simcoe 5, Jacquie Burns 3
Warsaw aces -ÊAndrea Saldivar 2, Burns 2, Ashley Hart 1, Abby Sumpter 1
Warsaw assists leader -ÊBurns 14
Wawasee assists leader -ÊCandice Brown 10
Wawasee digs leader - Kim Likens 9
Records: Warsaw 14-2, 4-0 NLC; Wawasee 6-6, NLC N/A
