Published: October 23, 2009 11:17 am      

Goshen, Northridge bumped by Class 4A powerhouses

The Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers and Warsaw Tigers were winners Thursday night in first-round matches of a Class 4A girls volleyball sectional at Goshen High School.

Senior Brittany Anglemyer recorded 18 kills as Memorial defeated Northridge 25-12, 25-9, 25-16. Warsaw topped the Goshen Lady Redskins 25-17, 25-8, 25-14 in the opener.

The sectional continues on Saturday with Warsaw facing Memorial at 11 a.m., followed by Elkhart Central and Concord around 12:30 p.m. in semifinals.

Winners return for the championship match at 7.

Goshen got off to a good start, taking an 8-3 lead on an ace by junior Kaitlyn Troyer.

“The first game we played until a point and then the momentum stopped and never returned,” Goshen coach Kera Maure said.

“We were not hitting. Warsaw didn’t serve many aces in the opening game, but then they started to.

“We are a short team but you still have to get kills. The few times we tipped the ball to the middle we scored.”

Senior Olivia Zepeda had three kills and junior Lizz Kleinsmith two to lead the Redskins. Kleinsmith had 10 assists, senior Jordyn Myers 18 digs, junior Kaitlyn Troyer three aces and 21 digs.

“One thing we did was play defense,” Maure said. “We worked our tails off by going after every ball and trying to keep them from hitting the floor. Troyer played an awesome game. She kept a lot of balls alive.”

Goshen finishes 13-20.

“We were nervous at the start,” Maure said. “If we don’t have anyone believing we can win, how are we going to win? It’s a mental thing we have to get over. We have to starting winning to begin believing we can.

“I’m a competitor and never go into any match thinking we are not going to win.”

Anglemyer was a dominant force for Memorial at the net.

“She elevates above the blockers,” Memorial coach Jacquie Rost said. “If you don’t get a double block on her, you are going to be sorry. She has a fast arm swing. The physical talents like jumping and hitting have always been there, but she has improved this season by becoming a smarter player.”

Northridge coach Jodie Steele said, “Anglemyer was on her game. We tried our best to slow her down, but couldn’t.”

Despite the victory Rost knows her team can and needs to play better.

“We had some problems serving and at this level that is nothing more than a lack of focus,” she said. “We were lucky that didn’t hurt us.

“We consider the state tournament the second season. We have to got better each match, because the competition does.”

Besides Anglemyer, senior Krystle Troyer accumulated nine kills.

“We are fortunate to have girls who can pound the ball,” Rost said. “Our front line is tough and the setter (junior Brianna Moore) did a nice job using all three. She is deceptive and the other team doesn’t always know who she is going to.”

Junior Tori Roberts had four kills, senior Katie Schultz five digs, junior Kerri Doutlick five digs and 12 assists to lead Northridge.

“I thought we played good and stayed with Memorial to the end,” Steele said. “We were able to talk to the girls about playing every serve and not taking time to think about mistakes.”

Northridge lost a key hitter when junior Shelby Schmucker left with an injury when Memorial was leading 4-3 in the third game.

“She came down on another player’s foot and rolled an ankle,” Steele said. “We had to mix things up a little, but (senior) Megan Robinson came in and stepped it up.”

Northridge finishes 10-21.