Wando senior blocker Sydney DeJong watched helplessly from the bench, sidelined with the flu, as her team split the first two sets against Bishop England on Tuesday.

DeJong entered the match in start of the third set and immediately bolstered the Warriors’ front line working off Jacques and Sarah Missroon. DeJong, regarded as one of the state’s top middles, sent back shots and ripped off powerful kills as the Warriors marched to a 25-15 win.

The fourth set saw more of the same. With DeJong and Jacques controlling the net, the Bishops struggled to sustain any real momentum in a deciding 25-13 Warriors win.

Despite playing just three sets, DeJong finished the night with a match-high six blocks and seven kills. Jacques led the match with 16 kills and five blocks. Keeghan Andrews added 10 kills. Brooke Medders led all players with 25 digs and freshman Grae Gosnell finished second on the team with 15.

The Warriors capped a 25-18 win in the opening set with a three-point rally that senior hitter Katie Jacques closed with a powerful spike.

But Wando’s play at the net softened in the second set. Rhetta Moore served Bishop England to a quick 6-0 lead. Wando answered with a six-point run of its own only to have Emma Lawrence serve five straight to help the Bishops reclaim a 12-6 advantage. Wando never recovered in the 25-15 loss.

Moore finished the night with a match-high three aces; Lawrence added 19 digs and six kills, while Kathleen Griffith led the Bishops with 15 kills.

It’s the third time this season Wando, the 2015 AAAA state champion, has defeated 2015 AA state champion Bishop England but the first in a best-of-five, non-tournament match.

Wando (27-6) is currently ranked second in the state, behind Dorman, with Bishop England (19-9) listed eighth overall.