Sarah Yuskewich

Teresa Murphy

With two more North Coast Athletic Conference victories on Saturday in a tri-match at Hiram, the Wittenberg University volleyball program has once again staked a claim to the regular season championship. This years 8-0 NCAC mark is the fifth straight perfect conference record for the Tigers, extending a conference winning streak to 41 straight matches, dating back to Oct. 25, 1997 and a 3-2 loss at Case Western Reserve University.

The Tigers overwhelmed two more NCAC foes on Saturday, defeating Hiram 3-0 (30-14, 30-16, 30-16) and Denison 3-0 (30-21, 30-28, 30-19), the two closest pursuers in the race for the conference crown in 2002. Wittenberg has not lost even a single game in an NCAC match this year.

Statistically, the leaders were the usual suspects. Sophomore setter Sarah Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) distributed 103 assists in the two matches and showed few if any ill effects from the previous weeks ankle injury. Sophomore outside hitter Monica McDonald (Newark, Ohio/Catholic)pounded 24 kills in the two matches and was responsible for 28.5 points won. She also had four service aces.

In addition, sophomore Emilie Schmid (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) contributed 24 digs and senior Teresa Murphy (Blacklick, Ohio/Newark Catholic) added 28 digs and 25 kills in her usual fine all-around effort.

McDonald continues to lead the team and NCAC in kills with 450 for the season and average of 4.55 kills per game. Yuskewich ranks first in the conference and among the top five in the nation in assists per game with 14.59. With 1401 assists already on her stat sheet and at least 10 matches still to play, she remains on pace to reach the school and national record for assists in a season set by Shelli Habegger in 2000.

Next up for the Tigers is an important trip to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the NCAA runner-up in 2001 and one of the top teams in the nation again this year. The Tigers are one of several nationally ranked teams schedule to compete in the two-day tournament, which will serve as a warm-up to an intense weekend of volleyball action in Springfield on Nov. 1 and 2 when No. 1 ranked and undefeated Washington University and nationally ranked Mount St. Joseph and Juniata come calling at the HPER Center.