Emily Bell

Despite appearances, the 2005 Wittenberg volleyball team isn’t starting over. After the best season in school history, which included a school-record 35 wins, a top-five national ranking, an eighth straight North Coast Athletic Conference championship and the second NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinal appearance in the last three years, four All-American starters may have graduated, but the cupboard is hardly bare.

Sophomore outside hitters Emily Bell (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) andLindsey Penrod (Piqua, Ohio/ Piqua) are two of the team’s returning starters. Bell was a sensation in her inaugural collegiate campaign, finishing among the team leaders in kills and digs while displaying a tremendous all-court game in the tradition of past Tiger All-American outside hitters Monica McDonald, Kim Woodring and Dawn Reinhardt. Penrod was steady, taking advantage of her opportunities and gaining valuable experience with 111 kills and 37 blocks in 87 games played.

The other returning starter is senior middle hitter Emily Dixon (Granville, Ohio/Granville), who made second-team All-NCAC a year ago despite sharing the limelight in the middle with honorable mention All-American Kristin Fox. Dixon ranked among the team leaders in kills, attack percentage and blocks in 2004, and she already ranks among the school’s career leaders in blocks.

Senior outside hitter Linda Young (Minster, Ohio/Minster), sophomore outside hitter Jan Kehres (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) and sophomore middle hitter Caitlin Augustus (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee), all of whom saw limited action in 2004, also figure prominently in the Tigers’ 2005 offensive mix. Kehres was the leader statistically from this group as she finished with 129 kills and 139 digs in 45 games played (25 matches) in 2004.

One of the keys to the team’s success in 2005 will be the play of two sophomores in line to handle chores at the setter position. Sarah Matesich (Granville, Ohio/ Newark Catholic) distributed 200 assists in 36 games while backing up three-time All-American Sarah Yuskewich. She was joined during the spring non-traditional season by Ashley Anderson (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North), who transferred to Wittenberg from Western Illinois. Anderson’s sister, Aubrey, was a two-year letterwinner and a 2004 starter as a defensive specialist with the Tigers who graduated in May.

Instead of relying on the 6-0 Yuskewich exclusively, the Tigers will turn to Matesich and Anderson in tandem. Similarly, Wittenberg must replace the finest defensive player in school history, second-team All-American Emilie Schmid, and it may be a committee of players taking their turns at the libero position early in the season.

Schmid played all 121 games in the 38 matches in 2004, and no other Tiger player donned the distinctive stripes of the team’s libero uniform. Three players, including one heralded freshman, are listed as either liberos or defensive specialists entering the 2005 season, making that one of several interesting preseason storylines for this youthful squad. Another will be the overall development of an outstanding six-player recruiting class, a group of highly-touted players who will all get the rare opportunity to step right in and play significant minutes for a national championship caliber program.