SALEM, Va. — The Wittenberg University Tigers were so close they could taste their first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament championship match berth. But they never reached that goal, falling in most stunning fashion, 3-2, to defending national champion Juniata.

The Tigers were appearing in their first-ever national semifinal match, and they took what appeared to be a commanding 14-10 advantage in the tense "race to 15" that is the fifth and final game of a collegiate volleyball match. However, Juniata did what champions do - respond in crisis. The Eagles raised the level of their game, pounding out six straight points - all on kills - and take home a 16-14 victory in Game 5.

Juniata, ranked second nationally with a 37-1 overall record, will take on Wisconsin-Whitewater in Saturday's national title match. Wittenberg, ranked fifth in the nation, ends the season with a 34-5 overall record, one short of last year's school record of 35 wins.

Head Coach Paco Labrador, while obviously crushed by the defeat, was proud of what his young team had accomplished. After losing five seniors, including four All-Americans, the Tigers weren't expected to have this kind of season.

"I'm proud of this team for what they accomplished this year," Labrador said. "We've accomplished more than any other (volleyball) team in Wittenberg history."

The Tigers led for most of the first game and closed it out, 30-26, on a kill by freshman Jackie Williams, who had sprained her left ankle in the quarterfinal match against New York University on Thursday.

Juniata came right back in Game 2, capturing a 30-24 decision by winning nine of the last 12 points after Wittenberg had rallied to a 21-21 tie. That was followed by a tense third game that appeared to be going against the Tigers, but Wittenberg came back from a 27-26 deficit with four straight points, including a pair of kills by senior Emily Dixon.

Game 4 went decisively to Juniata, 30-21, setting the stage for the dramatic fifth game and the stunning turn of events that took place and ended the Tigers' dream season. The Tiger volleyball team was making Wittenberg's first appearance in an NCAA Division III Tournament Final Four since 1994 when the men's basketball team finished third. No Wittenberg women's athletic team had ever reached a Final Four previously.

All of those firsts were of little consolation to sophomore outside hitters Jan Kehres and Emily Bell as they sat in the post-match interview room. "It's tough to lose, and I feel for our seniors," Kehres said. "But we're going to come back and work hard for next year. The goal of winning a national championship will be the same."

Bell and Kehres were simply tremendous in this match, diving all over the court for loose balls and pounding 15 and 13 kills respectively. Kehres added a match-best 22 digs, while Bell added 13. Freshman libero Laura Fender added 20 digs, coming off a sub-par quarterfinal performance to put together an outstanding finish to her inaugural collegiate campaign.

Sophomore setter Sarah Matesich led Wittenberg with 29 assists and senior Linda Young also finished with 13 kills. Sophomore Caitlin Augustus added eight kills and a team-best .304 attack percentage, while Dixon followed up her career high 14 kills against NYU with 10 kills, tops on either team.