HIRAM, Ohio - The 2007 season has been smooth sailing for the most part for the Wittenberg Tigers. On a day when they needed to bring their A game against a pair of quality opponents, the Tigers kept the wind at their back and entered into record territory.
In a tri-match hosted by the only North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) team to defeat Wittenberg in the last decade, the Tigers posted matching 3-0 wins over 22-ranked Hiram and Heidelberg. The win over the Terriers came by scores of 30-20, 30-19, 30-17, while the Student Princes were defeated by scores of 30-23, 30-19, 30-28.
The wins moved the No. 1 ranked Tigers to 29-0 overall in 2007 and 12-0 in the NCAC. Wittenberg, the lone unbeaten team in all of NCAA Division III, clinched at least a share of their second straight - and 11th in the last 12 years - conference title. Hiram is two matches behind with two to play, but the Terriers have now been swept by the Tigers.
The day started off well enough for the Tigers as senior outside hitter Emily Bell (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) collected team-highs of 24 digs, two aces and 12 kills in the win over Hiram. In addition, senior outside hitter Jan Kehres (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) added 10 kills on a .318 attack percentage, junior liberoLaura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) chipped in with two aces and the setting duo of senior Sarah Matesich (Granville, Ohio/Newark Catholic) and sophomoreErin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) combined for 44 assists.
The Tigers put the finishing touches on the day with a win over Heidelberg that was filled with individual statistical landmarks. Junior outside hitter Jackie Williams (Rocky River, Ohio/Magnificat) pounded 18 kills on a .444 attack percentage to surpass 1,000 kills in her career. She joins Bell and Kehres as active players with more than 1,000 kills and becomes one of just 12 players in Wittenberg history to reach that plateau.
In addition, Bell tossed in her third straight double-double with 11 kills and 20 digs, while Fender led the way defensively with 28 digs. Both players surpassed 2,000 digs in their respective careers, making them the third and fourth players in school history to reach that plateau.
Finally, the Tigers won their 16th and 17th straight matches by 3-0 scores, moving Wittenberg past the previous NCAA Division III record of 49 consecutive games won set by Washington University more than a decade ago and within four games of the recently established mark of 57 by Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Tigers can claim the record for themselves next week when they put their 53 straight games won on the line against Earlham, Denison and second-ranked Juniata, all at home in the HPER Center.