GOSHEN - Listed as the visitors on the scoreboard, the Warsaw Lady Tigers made themselves right at home Thursday evening. Playing the host Lady Redskins in the opening round of the Class 4A volleyball sectional at Goshen High School, Warsaw (25-7) was dominant in a 25-10, 25-8, 25-10 victory that set up a semifinal match Saturday at 11 a.m. with No. 3 Elkhart Memorial. Memorial (30-4) advanced by beating Northridge 25-16, 25-16, 25-12. Saturday's second semifinal match will feature Elkhart Central (23-10) and Concord (23-8). The championship match is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. "The key is serving well, and not believing we can win, but knowing we can win," Warsaw coach Mike Howard said when asked about Saturday's semifinal matchup with the Crimson Chargers. "We have to have that confidence to get past their jersey." Memorial beat the Lady Tigers in five games in Warsaw back on Aug. 25. "We're excited to have the opportunity to play them again," said Howard. "You have to play them in the conference, and you have to beat them if you want to win the sectional." The Lady Tigers are searching for their first sectional championship since 2004, while Memorial has won four straight. In beating Goshen, which ended its season with a record of 12-20, Warsaw jumped out to big leads in all three games. In the opener, the Lady Tigers led 10-2, followed by a 20-4 advantage in the second game and a 19-6 cushion in the third and final game. "We just served well," said Howard. "We were able to get on a roll." Alex Sanchez, Andi Frazetta and Jamie Lacheta all had three aces for Warsaw, while Chloe Hubner led the Lady Tigers with 24 assists, Sanchez had 21 digs and Lacheta led in kills with 17. Goshen coach Kera Maure said the difference in the game was Warsaw's height, impressive defense and the flow of its defense. "Warsaw's defense was phenominal," said Maure. "Even when they brought subs in they played well. They're tall, they play phenominal defense and their system works." The teams were tied 1-1 in each game, but the only lead Goshen held in any of the games was a 2-1 advantage in third game. "We were 0-7 in the conference," said Maure. "We need to learn to go out there with a positive attitude. I would say nothing really went our way."
WARSAW DEF. GOSHEN 25-10, 25-8, 25-10 Aces – Warsaw, Alex Sanchez 3, Andi Frazetta 3, Jamie Lacheta 3 Assists - Warsaw, Chloe Hubner 24, Megan Chauney 4; Goshen, Leah Kissinger 4, Madison Ortiz 2 Blocks – Warsaw, Nicole Nulf 2, Kate Voelz 1 Digs – Warsaw, Sanchez 21, Emily Poe 10; Goshen, Brittany Olson 12, McKenzie Byler 6, Julie Jesse 6, Kissinger 5 Kills – Lacheta 17, Sarah Heagy 5; Goshen, Byler 4, Kissinger 3 Records: Warsaw 25-7, Goshen 12-20 Other match – Memorial def. Northridge 25-16, 25-16, 25-12 Records: Memorial 30-4, Northridge 18-14 Semifinals, Saturday 11 a.m. - Warsaw vs. Memorial 12:30 p.m. – Elk. Central vs. Concord
