MIDDLEBURY —  The lesson learned by Goshen High School volleyball coach Kera Maure if she didn’t already know it was you can’t coach height.

The Goshen Redskins learned that lesson the hard way in a first-round match with the Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers on the opening might of the Class 4A sectional at Northridge.

Memorial used its size advantage for a 25-11, 25-13, 25-14 victory.

“Our size advantage was pretty huge,” Memorial coach Jacquie Rost said. “I have been on the other side and no matter how good of a coach you are you can’t make the girls any taller.”

“We played great defense and got a lot of ball up. Memorial got kills over us,” Maure said.

The Warsaw Tigers were 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 winners over Concord in the evening’s first match.

Action resumes on Saturday with Warsaw facing Memorial at 11 a.m. followed by Northridge and Elkhart Central. The winners return for the championship at 7 p.m.

One Memorial player who used her size to her advantage was 6-1 senior middle hitter Brianne Ballow. She was a problem for the Redskins at the net with four kills, three solo blocks and one assisted block.

“She is a player that has really improved over the season,” Rost said. “We are very pleased with the progress she has made. Her plays has become more aggressive so we have been delivering the ball to her more because of that.”

Memorial jumped out to early leads of 10-4 on a block by senior Paige Newvine, 18-7 on a block by Ballow before winning the first set when a Goshen return went out of bounds. In the second set, Memorial opened an early 7-3 lead only to have Goshen tie the score at 7-7 when a Memorial kill attempt was out of bounds. The Chargers quickly regained the lead on a kill by Newvine and went on to a 19-12 advantage on a block by senior Lexa Magnuson and junior Chelsea Bettis. Goshen had an early 5-3 lead in the third set. Memorial went on to leads of 15-9 on a kill by senior Christina Hill and 20-11 on a kill by Magnuson. Memorial record match point on a kill by Ballow.

It was the final game for Redskin seniors Leah Kissinger, Emily Mullet, Brittany Olsen and Madison Ortiz.

Kissinger had team highs of 10 assists and two aces.

“The only thing I’m disappointed by is not getting to coach this team anymore,” Maure said. “This group has been fun



to coach. They have played with a lot of heart, drive and desire this season. We made tremendous improvements from the beginning of the season to the end.”

The Redskin defense was led by sophomore libero Caitlin Alwine with 26 digs.

“Caitlin played phenomenal defense,” Maure said.

Mullet added 13 digs, Kissinger 11 and Olsen 10.

“We worked on our serve receive and our passing was very good,” Maure said. “We tried to mix up our hitting, but Memorial figured out what we were doing.”

Goshen ends the season 10-23.

The Warsaw Tigers had too much experience for Concord in the first match.

“We are a young team,” Concord coach Laurie Rhoades said. “At any given time I may four sophomores on the floor with a junior and a senior.

“There was a hump that we just couldn’t get over, but the girls saw what is coming. Our expectations for this season were not high, but they will be for next season.”

The first set with Warsaw was very competitive as the Tigers never had more than a one-point lead until senior Samantha Jensen recorded a kill to make the 20-18 in favor of Warsaw. The Tigers held on to the slim lead until Jensen notched set point on a tip.

Warsaw started to pull away a little earlier in the second set, taking a 16-11 lead on a kill by senior Jamie Lacheta. Concord made a run and got to within four points at 23-19 on a kill by junior Holly Angel. Concord made it 24-21 when Warsaw was called for a carry, but the Tigers were awarded the set point when a Concord return went out of bounds.

The final set was more of the same. Concord tied the score 14-14 when Warsaw served into the net. Warsaw inched ahead and got match point when a Concord kill went out of bounds.

Lacheta was a force at the net for the Tigers.

“She’s good,” Rhoades said. “We changed our defense depending where she was on the floor. We had one for when she was in the front row and another when she was in the back row.

“We also tried to serve her short, because she has more problems with those type of serves.

“Warsaw is a very talented team, but I think we surprised them a little tonight. They beat us pretty handily at their place.”

Concord finishes 17-17.



Goshen Leaders

Aces — Leah Kissinger 2, Amy Harris 1. Assists — Leah Kissinger 10. Kills —Kayci Troyer 5, Madison Ortiz 3. Digs —  Caitlin Alwine 26, Emily Mullet 13, Leah Kissinger 11, Brittany Olsen 10.

Memorial Leaders

Aces — Victoria Miller 1, Brianne Ballow 1. Assists — Paige Newvine 29. Kills — Lexa Magnuson 11, Chelsea Bettis 7, Christina Hill 7, Paige Newvine 7. Digs — Paige Newvine 15, Christine Hill 13, Victoria Miller 11. Blocks — Brianne Ballow 3 solo, 1 assisted; Chelsea Bettis 2 solo, 1 assisted; Paige Newvine 1 solo, 2 assisted.

Concord Leaders

Aces — Natalie Schiavone 4, Ciana Bonfiglio 2. Assists — Natalie Schiavone 14, Holyn Eldridge 8. Kills —Holly Angel 9, Mackenzie Grantiz 6, Gabby Staggs 4, Holyn Eldridge 4, Kylie Ehret 4. Digs — Jade Iavagnilio 20, Kennadie Lopez 12, Ciana Bonfiglio 11.  Blocks — Gabby Staggs 2 solo, Kylie Ehret 1 solo.