SYRACUSE — Playing with its back against the wall, Wawasee volleyball showed glimpses versus visiting Westview Monday night.

But battling from behind isn’t really the problem for the Lady Warriors, who dropped to 1-12 with their seventh straight loss. The team — which hasn’t had a win since a three-game victory at Lakeland back on Aug. 21 — has had plenty of practice fighting from behind. It’s getting off to a strong start and finishing games that have proven the more difficult issues, and it was the same story in Thursday’s 25-11, 25-19, 19-25, 25-15 defeat in Syracuse.

“I think overall it’s frustrating for everybody,” said Wawasee head coach Kayla Riportella.

“We do have moments, and I just told my girls that. We have moments of excellence; we have moments where everything clicks and comes together and then we have moments of panic. And this season it’s been fighting the panic — how to play with the pressure, how to take the pressure and put it on the other team and being confident enough in their ability to execute. And we’re still working out those kinks. We still have yet to find something that works, something that gets us to finish, something that pulls out a win.”

The home team took a quick, 25-11 loss in game one before a more competitive, 25-19 finish in game two. Riportella gave her players a quick pep talk before game three, and the Warriors seemed to take it to heart, rolling to a 25-19 win in the set. Again they battled against some early deficits in game four, but they never got back out into the lead and that proved to be their last gasp opposite Westview, 25-15.

“My girls are used to playing from behind. They don’t know what to do when they’re the ones leading on the scoreboard,” explained Riportella. “They’re used to panic — that survive, fight or flight moment — and we’re still learning how to win. That was our struggle last year with my roster. It’s our struggle this year, is we’re learning how to win together, and we still haven’t figured it out yet. But I’m hoping with enough work and time and practice we’re going to make it happen by the end of season.”

Wawasee struggled mounting much offense against the visitors.

Hanah Gaerte put down five kills to lead the team in attacking. After that, Peyton Rookstool, Liz Kleopfer, Courtney Larson, Janae Hapner, Isabelle Kloss and Hannah-Marie Lamle tallied two kills each. Kleopfer led in assists with nine, Brooke Heche served up five aces and led in digs with 16, and Gaerte and Lamle notched a solo block each. Kleopfer also recorded six digs, while Tiffany Koble dug out seven balls in a performance that stood out to her coach.

“I was very impressed with my senior Tiffany Koble and her defensive play this match. She’s been one who has often been a leader by example, and tonight she led with her voice, she led by example, and she performed on the court. She was able to make a difference and change the game every time she went in, and I was very proud of that,” Riportella said.

Next up for the Warriors is a return to Northern Lakes Conference play at Concord Thursday.

“We’re going to have to look at being the smarter team offensively and being able to challenge the other team’s weaknesses defensively and to keep the ball in play,” Riportella said.

“I’m excited to see them. I used to be a player for the head coach over that way back when I was in college. It’s always a good match. It’s always a competitive match, but my girls have to go in with the right mentality.”