MIDDLEBURY – The favorite on paper, Warsaw’s volleyball team was the winner on the court Thursday evening. Opening Class 4A sectional action at Northridge High School against Concord, the Lady Tigers scored a 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 victory. Warsaw is now 27-5 on the season and will square off with defending sectional champion Elkhart Memorial (17-17) in Saturday’s 11 a.m. semifinal round. Memorial defeated Goshen 25-11, 25-13, 25-14 in Thursday’s other match. In the second semifinal match Saturday, Elkhart Central (21-6) and host Northridge (24-9) will play at 12:30 p.m. The winners will do battle in the championship match at 7 p.m. for a berth in next week’s Huntington Regional. In the three-game win over Concord, Chloe Hubner had 34 assists for the Lady Tigers, while Jamie Lacheta added 17 kills and 12 digs. It was the second time this season Warsaw defeated Concord in three games. The Lady Tigers hosted and defeated their Northern Lakes Conference rival on Oct. 4, as they wrapped up a 7-0 record in the NLC. Warsaw’s matchup with Elkhart Memorial on Saturday has the potential to be exciting. When the teams met on Aug. 23 in Elkhart, Warsaw defeated the Crimson Chargers 3-2 in the best-of-five match, ending Memorial’s 76-match win streak in the NLC. The Lady Tigers are in search of their first sectional championship since 2004. WARSAW DEF. CONCORD 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 (Warsaw leaders) Aces – Jamie Lacheta 4, Delaney Goble 2, Chloe Hubner; Assists – Hubner 34; Blocks – Katie Voelz 2, Lacheta 1, Emily Poe 1; Digs – Alex Sanchez 14, Lacheta 12, Goble 9; Kills – Lacheta 17, Voelz 6, Poe 6, Taylor Jagger 5 (Concord leaders) Kills – Holly Angel 9, Mackenzie Granitz 6; Assists – Natalie Schiavone 14, Holyn Eldridge 8; Aces – Schiavone 4; Digs – Jade Iavagnillio 20, Kennadie Lopez 12, Ciara Bonfiglio 11 Records: Warsaw 27-5
