ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Wittenberg Tigers were truly tested for the first time in the 2007 season on the first day of the Washington University National Invitational, and the No. 2 ranked team in the nation proved to be up to the task.
The Tigers captured a 3-0 win over 12th-ranked Concordia-Moorhead by scores of 30-11, 30-23, 30-20 and a 3-1 victory over Central (Iowa) by scores of 30-15, 30-23, 28-30, 30-21. The wins moved Wittenberg to 6-0 on the young season, heading into a Saturday that figures to be an important measuring stick for the Tigers on both the national and regional levels. Day 2 of the Washington University National Invitational includes match-ups with the No. 4 ranked host team and No. 15 Ohio Northern, one of the top contenders for the Great Lakes Regional title that Wittenberg has owned in four of the last five years.
Against Concordia-Moorhead, the Tigers took control early and never took their collective foot off the gas pedal. Senior outside hitter Emily Bell (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) showed the way defensively with 14 digs, and she also added three aces. Senior setter Sarah Matesich (Granville, Ohio/Newark Catholic) contributed three aces as well.
The offense was powered by the junior tandem of outside hitter Jackie Williams (Rocky River, Ohio/Magnificat) and middle hitter Jessica Kimble (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont). Williams finished with 15 kills and an astounding attack percentage of .750, while Kimble added nine kills on a .600 attack percentage.
The win over Central featured the Tigers' first non-sweep of the 2007 season, but they bounced back from the Game 3 defeat to win going away. Bell was stellar again, this time leading the offense with 15 kills. Senior outside hitter Jan Kehres (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) added 12 kills and three aces.
Defensively, junior libero Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) was outstanding with 28 digs, while senior outside hitter Lindsey Penrod (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) and senior middle hitter Caitlin Augustus (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) chipped in with five blocks apiece.