Tigers Can't Quite Pull Off a Win in the NCAA Quarterfinals

Tiffany Keller

Monica McDonald

The Tiger volleyball team took another big step forward in 2002. Unfortunately, they couldnt make it two big steps forward last weekend as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The final scores were 30-18, 29-31, 30-20, 30-19 in favor of the homestanding Warhawks.

Wisconsin-Whitewater opened the first game with five consecutive points and never trailed in a 30-18 victory. Wittenberg was led by sophomore outside hitter Monica McDonald (Newark, Ohio/Catholic)and senior outside hitter Teresa Murphy (Blacklick, Ohio/Newark Catholic), who each finished with three kills. Senior middle hitter Tiffany Keller (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) and sophomore libero Emilie Schmid (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) each added four digs.

In the second game, the action went back and forth before Wittenberg prevailed 31-29. The Tigers were led by McDonald, Keller and junior outside hitter Lindsay Nelson (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) with five kills each. Murphy had 12 digs and sophomore setter Sarah Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson)added 17 assists.

The Warhawks opened Game 3 with a 5-2 run and never trailed en route to a 30-20 victory. And the fourth game was tied 9-9 before Whitewater took control with a 19-6 run en route to a 30-19 victory. 

UW-Whitewater improved to 34-4 overall on the season and picked up its second win over Wittenberg in four weeks. The Warhawks, ranked sixth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Poll, advanced to the national semifinals. 

The Tigers, ranked No. 3 in the final AVCA poll, were led by Kellers 17 kills and 15 from McDonald. Yuskewich had 43 assists and set new school, conference and NCAA records for assists in a season and assists per game during a season. Both marks had previously been established by Wittenbergs Shelli Habegger in the 2000 season.

Earlier last week, Yuskewich had learned that she had been named the NCAC Player of the Year. She is the fifth straight Wittenberg player to earn that honor. Keller and McDonald joined her on the first-team, Murphy was named second-team All-NCAC and Surowicz was the Coach of the Year for a third time in her nine years at Wittenberg.