Timing Is Everything For Warsaw

Players on Jamie Byron's Warsaw volleyball team keep journals that they write in after every match.

After four Mishawaka Tournament losses Saturday, to No. 1 (4A) Muncie Central, No. 1 (A) Clinton Prairie, No. 2 (4A) Mishawaka and No. 5 (3A) Mishawaka Marian, each player wrote a version of the same thing.

"All the girls mentioned how we just weren't clicking yet, how everything seemed to be a little off," Byron said.

The timing returned Tuesday evening. This time the opponent was 1-7 Whitko, not Muncie Central, and the court was at home. Warsaw, 3-5, breezed past Whitko 15-2, 15-6.

This, Byron said, was exactly the type of match Warsaw needed after she watched her team get run through the wringer in one of the best regular season volleyball tournaments in the state.

"This match was awfully important," she said. "If not just for the win, but for our confidence."

Warsaw's front line dominated, especially Brooke Sutton on the outside. Her timing had been off, but Byron got her to focus on the small blocker, which helped. She led Warsaw with eight kills and 10 digs.

The Tigers got more than their fair share of touches as far as blocks, and they got to the short balls, the ones that look like they could drop in the middle.

"That's something we didn't do Saturday," Byron said.

Jessica Zaugg finished with 24 assists on 54 attempts. Liz Owens had eight digs, four kills and two aces. Nancy Mason had eight digs and five kills.

Whitko had one flurry of activity on the evening, in the middle of the second game. BrieAnn Starkweather heated up, recording four quick kills to turn what was an 8-1 Warsaw lead into just a 10-6 Warsaw lead. Warsaw regrouped to finish out Starkweather and the Wildcats.

The Tigers had their win, and any confidence lost was regained.

"We did a good job of not hanging our heads Saturday," Byron said. "We knew going into that tournament if we came away with one win, we would be lucky.

"It shows the Mishawaka Tournament paid off. It's a tune-up that helps prepare us for the Ben Davis Tournament, for the NLC. That's what it's about, winning your conference."

The entries the Tigers put in their journals after the Mishawaka Tournament? They took them to heart.

"Tonight," Byron said, "we put together a complete game."

WARSAW DEF. WHITKO 15-2, 15-6

Warsaw leaders

Kills -ÊBrooke Sutton 8, Nancy Mason 5, Nerecia Taylor 5, Liz Owens 4, Kristen DeGeeter 2, Jessica Zaugg 2

Digs -ÊSutton 10, Owens 8, Mason 8, Zaugg 6

Aces -ÊOwens 2

Assists - Zaugg 24

Records - Warsaw 3-5, Whitko 1-8

JV: WARSAW DEF. WHITKO 15-5, 15-9

Warsaw leaders

Kills - Janna Kinsely 7, Myra Sells 5

Digs -ÊKnisely 9, Hilary O'Connell 8

Serves -ÊO'Connell 9 for 9, Kara Kesler 7 for 8

Aces -ÊKesler 2

Assists -ÊAbby Sumpter 9

Records - Warsaw 3-1, Whitko N/A