Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Two local volleyball teams with records on the opposite ends of the spectrum met at the Hardwood Teepee Tuesday night as Wawasee hosted Manchester. The game went about how one would expect it to go on paper, as the Lady Squires continued what has been a stellar season with a 3-0 win.
“I thought we did a lot of really nice things tonight. It wasn’t perfect but overall I’d say we were pretty sharp,” Manchester head coach Adam Marlatt said.
Momentum shifted on a dime throughout the early stages of the match, with both teams going
on runs of their own to flip flop the lead back and forth. Wawasee began strong with the first three points of the night, only for Manchester to score five of the next six to jump in front for the first time.
With the rapid-fire action continuing, the game was tied multiple times over the next couple points, with neither team able to find an edge. Eventually, it would be the visitors that were able to find a bit of separation, causing the home side to call the first timeout of the night trailing 13-9.
The quick-hitting offense was a problem for the Lady Warriors to deal with. Manchester senior Ava Felgar was controlling everything at the net, playing both tremendous offense as well as stout defense. The tough D extended to the Lady Squire back line as well, as even when Wawasee was able to set up their offense and unleash a kill from their hitters, one of Myla Crozier or Izzy Renze was there for the dig.
Manchester continued to grow their lead larger and larger as the set wore on, eventually taking the opener 25-14.
Wawasee got off to a much better start in the second set, with a pair of aces by junior Addison Delegrange leading the way as the home side took a 6-1 lead that forced an early timeout by the visitors.
The Lady Warriors’ lead got to be as large as six before Manchester began staging a comeback. It didn’t take long for them to complete it, as things were tied up at 9-9 before the Lady Squires took their first lead of the set a point later.
From there, it was smooth sailing once again for the visitors, as they were able to continue riding the momentum they had created to a six-point lead of their own. It wouldn’t stop there, as a block and kill by sophomore Ella Peden made it a 10-point game, forcing Wawasee to call time to try and contain the avalanche.
“We’ve got a nice mix of kids. A lot of senior leadership but a lot of depth as well,” Marlatt said. “I think we showcased that tonight and I like the direction we’re headed.”
Sophomore Zaiyla Shortill was able to come up with some thunderous kills for the home team during this final stretch, but it wouldn’t be enough. Manchester won the second set 25-15 on a kill by Renz to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Unlike the first two sets, there was no early lead for Wawasee in the third. With two games already under their belt, the Lady Squires were dialed in as they took an early four-point lead. The advantage would eventually grow to seven before timeout was called.
Wawasee junior Addison Delagrange (L) looks on as sophomore teammate Hadley Allen bumps the ball during the second set of Tuesday night's home game against Manchester...NIeter
The Lady Warriors would not go down without a fight, scoring four straight after the break to cut into things a bit. However, within three would be as close as they’d get, as just as quickly as the Squire slump began, the visitors were able to correct it and held a commanding edge once again.
One last push by the home team wouldn’t be enough, and it wasn’t long before Manchester took the third set and the match 25-16 on a kill by Lacy Trump.
Manchester (11-1) travels to Bluffton on Thursday. Wawasee (0-9) will play at Plymouth on that same night.
