Tigers Spike Snider In Opener
FORT WAYNE – A familiar face and several promising new ones helped the Warsaw volleyball team open its season in style Wednesday night.
Junior Katie Voelz, one of the key returnees back from last year’s outstanding season, led the way as the Tigers topped host Fort Wayne Snider 25-21, 25-15, 25-8.
Voelz, who earned first-team All-NLC honors as a sophomore, had nine kills for coach Mike Howard’s squad Wednesday night. The strong middle hitter also had three blocks and four service aces in the win.
Warsaw also got a strong match from newcomer Laura Craig. Senior Craig, who played at Northridge last year, had 10 kills to go with 10 digs and three aces.
Junior Taylor Jagger also slammed 10 kills for the Tigers. Sophomore Peyton Adamiec led the winners with 18 digs and Delaney Goble had 10. Sophomore Jordyn Lindeman had two blocks for the Tigers.
Sophomore setter Cassie Hoag totaled 24 assists and also had four aces for Warsaw. Megan Chauncey had 10 assists.
The Tigers were missing senior outside hitter Emily Poe. The standout is sidelined due to an injury.
Warsaw went 27-6 last season and won the Northern Lakes Conference title at 7-0. The Tigers graduated five seniors from a year ago in top hitter Jamie Lacheta (now at Valparaiso University), setter Chloe Hubner, libero Alex Sanchez, strong middle and leader Sam Jensen and Rebecca Ailes.
The Warsaw JV team opened its season Wednesday night with a 25-21, 25-22 win over Snider.
Warsaw returns to action Saturday in the Lafayette Jeff Invitational. The Tigers then have a big week next week as they host perennial Class 3-A power Mishawaka Marian Monday night and then entertain NLC rival and Class 4-A power Elkhart Memorial Thursday night in the conference opener.
The Tigers defeated Memorial 3-2 in Elkhart in their regular-season meeting in 2012 to snap the Crimson Chargers’ 76-match win streak in the NLC. Memorial then topped Warsaw 3-1 in a sectional semifinal before claiming its sixth straight sectional championship.