SYRACUSE – The waiting was the hardest part for the NorthWood volleyball team Thursday night.

The Panthers took care of business quickly and then had to wait to find out their fate in the final Northern Lakes Conference standings.

In the end, after a 20-year hiatus from the top perch among NLC volleyball royalty, a little more waiting was no problem.

NorthWood earned a share of its first NLC championship since 1997 after posting a 3-0 win at Wawasee and Concord losing at home to Warsaw 3-2 in league finales Thursday night.

The Panthers, who share the conference crown with Concord at 6-1 in league play, put themselves in title position with a quick 25-12, 25-15, 25-14 win at Wawasee.

NorthWood, which lost a 3-2 final at home to Concord, then had to wait to hear what happened at Concord.

The Tigers, who dropped a 3-2 final at NorthWood last Thursday, rallied to beat the defending league champion Minutemen 25-20, 12-25, 14-25, 25-17, 15-11. Warsaw finishes 5-2 in league play with losses to NorthWood and Plymouth.

Senior Kennedy Wiens turned in another big all-around performance to pace the Panthers. She had 12 kills to go with 12 digs and three aces in the win over host Wawasee.

Senior Haylee Pennington also had a big night for the champions with 13 kills and a block.

Junior Whitney Gessinger had 15 digs and three aces and sophomore Maddy Payne two blocks for the Panthers. Senior setter Courtney Lengacher had 36 assists.

Coach Hilary Laidig’s team, which improves to 21-9 overall, finished 17-17 overall and 2-5 in the NLC a year ago.

The NLC champion Panthers have six seniors in Wiens, Pennington, Lengacher, Natalie Gerber, Kenzie Moren and Alexis Klotz.

Hannah Gaerte led Wawasee with five kills. Peyton Rookstool had three kills for the Warriors, who drop to 5-24 overall and finish 0-7 in the NLC.

Tiffany Koble had eight digs and Hannah Marie Lamle two blocks for the Warriors.

NorthWood plays Lakeland in a semifinal match in its own Class 3-A sectional on Saturday, Oct. 14 at approximately 12:30 p.m. Wawasee faces West Noble in the NorthWood Sectional next Thursday night at 6 p.m.

NorthWood won the junior varsity match 25-13, 25-9.

Alea Minnich had six kills and four aces to pace the NorthWood JV team. Kate Rulli had six kills and four aces too for the winners. Grace Kniesly had four aces, while Kendal Miller and Ali Knepp each had six digs. Caroline Mullet had 23 assists.