Women’s volleyball hosted their annual fall classic this past weekend and played against two top 25 ranked teams; number four Berry, and number fifteen Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Tigers ended the weekend, 1-2, winning over the Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks in three sets, (25-22, 25-16, 25-22), losing to the Berry College Vikings in three sets, (25-16, 25-18, 25-13), and to the Student Princes of Heidelberg University in four sets, (25-21, 25-18, 25-19, 25-17).
Tigers vs Wisconsin-Whitewater
The Tigers got off to a slow start against the Warhawks, trailing 10-2 in the first set until the Tigers regained their footing and won the first set 25-22. Wittenberg then sprinted ahead early in the second taking a 4-0 lead off two Warhawk errors along with a kill by Aubrey Cox (’20) and Katie Hiestand (’22) as well a service ace by Sarah Auble (’20).
The Tigers and Warhawks traded points, but Wittenberg pulled out the second set win, 25-16. The Tigers battled for the third set win as both teams only could manage to earn three consecutive points, although Wittenberg pulled out the 25-22 win in the end. Hiestand led the Tigers in points during Wittenberg’s win over the Warhawks Friday, with 12 points and 11 kills. Taylor Yontz (’20) kept the Warhawks serves at bay with 20 digs, which setup Ashley Brooks (’22) to lead the Tigers with 16 total assists.
Tigers vs Berry
The Tigers started off their Saturday with a loss against fourth-ranked Berry College in three sets. Wittenberg began the first set with an early 2-0 lead after a Berry service error and a kill by Cox. Berry started to apply the pressure and the Tigers crumbled committing 11 errors and fell to the Vikings, 25-16, in the first set.
Berry opened the second set with a point, and the Tigers quickly responded earning three points off two Berry attack errors and a kill by Paige Kucinic (’22). The Tigers kept that momentum going for a little bit until Berry jumped ahead with several continuous point streaks in the middle of the set. The Tigers attempted to regain their footing with strategic timeouts, during this time. Wittenberg eventually lost the second set to the Vikings, 25-18.
The third set started with Berry earning three points before the Tigers called a timeout. Wittenberg never really got themselves on a firm footing as the Vikings earned seven straight points to nail the Tigers coffin shut. Wittenberg lost the third set, 25-13. Cox led the team with 7.5 points and six of the Tigers 20 kills for the match. Sidney Reeder (’22) and Hiestand kept the pressure on the Vikings with 23 total attacks each.
Tigers vs Heidelberg
Wittenberg faced Heidelberg in the final match of the weekend and lost in three sets. The first set against the Student Princes saw the Tigers trading points early in the set. Heidelberg then went on to earn nine points which were only interrupted by a Heidelberg service error.
Wittenberg started to respond later in the match, but fell to Heidelberg in the first match, 25-21. The Tigers opened the second set strong, earning two points off a service ace by Auble and a kill by Katie Springer (’23). Heidelberg then responded with nine straight points until a kill by Hiestand and a Heidelberg attack error slowed the Student Princes momentum. The Tigers and Student Princes traded points until Wittenberg went on a streak of six points to bring the score to 18-15.
The Tigers would lose the second set 25-18. The Tigers won the third set 25-19 after trading points with Heidelberg the entire set. The fourth set saw the Tigers and Student Princes trade points until a series of attack errors by Olivia Young (’23) sent the Student Princes on a four-point streak. The Tigers never regained their momentum and fell to Heidelberg 25-17 in the fourth set. Young led the Tigers with 11 points and ten kills. Yontz accounted for 21 of the Tigers 66 total digs.
The Tigers will spend their next three games on the road, facing Otterbein on Friday, and resuming NCAC play next weekend on the road at Hiram on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., and Allegheny on Sept. 28 at 1 p.m.
