Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
It's been said many times before: Always save the best for last. And that's exactly what Warsaw's volleyball team did Tuesday night.
It wasn't the Tigers' best performance of the year that they saved for last, but rather their opponent's. In its last regular season home game, Warsaw fell 15-5, 15-8 to No. 6 (4A) Penn, a team Warsaw coach Tanya Coon said was "the best team we've played all year."
The win improves the Kingsmen's overall season record to 27-2. Warsaw falls to one game under .500 at 15-16.
The visitors showed no hesitation whatsoever last night. After Penn dropped Warsaw 15-4, 15-6 in the junior varsity contest, Kingsmen junior Karie Karasiak rattled off four points to put her team up early. In all she scored nine points in the first game, a game that saw the Tigers down 12-1 at one point.
"She's a good player," said Coon. "I don't think the girls played bad. They're (Penn) at a level we'd like to get to. We had a problem with our blocking. This is the first time the girls have let a team beat them without beating themselves."
The Tigers found themselves down 12-1 at one point before sophomore Hillary O'Connell and junior Andrea Saldivar scored two points each to bring them within seven. But Karasiak's ninth point of the match and two more by Kacie Karasiak gave the Kingsmen the first game.
"That's something we've been struggling with all year," said Coon, "getting the girls in the game and wanting to play. They have to keep their dignity and keep their head in it."
Junior Amie Poling gave Warsaw a quick 1-0 lead in the second game, but after the two teams battled through numerous sideouts, Penn junior Kristin Widmar rattled off seven consecutive service points, putting the Tigers down six. The Kingsmen jumped out to a 9-1 advantage and eventually 13-4 before Poling led the Tigers in another comeback attempt that brought them as close as 13-8. Sophomore Katie Zerr served up the last two points for Penn, giving it the two-game win.
After the game, Coon appeared as energetic as she would after a win. She was asked what her team would take from this loss.
"Hopefully the girls can figure out how they can play with any team if they want to," she said. "That's the biggest thing."
Warsaw (15-16) will be in action again Saturday at 11 a.m. when it travel to Kokomo.
PENN DEF. WARSAW 15-5, 15-8
Kills - Penn: Kristin Widmar 13, Lindsay Moore 9, Kacie Karasiak 7; Warsaw: Lindsay Woods 8, Kristen DeGeeter 4, Nerecia Taylor 3, Kara Kesler 3
Assists - Warsaw: Amie Poling 13; Penn: N/A
Blocks - Penn: Jessie Fox 6, Widmar 4, Kac. Karasiak 3
Aces - Penn: Widmar 3, Karie Karasiak 3, Kelly Kaczmarek 1; Warsaw: Ryann Jones 1
Digs - Penn, Kac. Karasiak 17, Kar. Karasiak 10, Widmar 7; Warsaw, Hillary O'Connell 6, DeGeeter 5, Poling 4, Andrea Saldivar 4
JV - Penn def. Warsaw 15-3, 15-6
(Warsaw stats)
Service points - Lindsay Simcoe 5
Kills - Ashley Hart 4, Nicole DeFord 4, Jana Knisely 3
Assists - Abby Sumpter 5, Leah Kiphart 3
Digs - Hart 5
