SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers showed off their depth on opening day of the 2007 season, sweeping past Centre and Eastern in the Wittenberg Invitational while using 19 players.
By scores of 30-25, 30-19, 30-23, the Tigers raced past Centre in the opener, and they came right back to register a 30-17, 30-9, 30-21 victory over Eastern in the nightcap. Wittenberg, 2-0 on the young season, takes on Defiance and Thomas More on Saturday to round out the 2007 Wittenberg Invitational.
Against Centre, the Tigers' starters pretty much went the distance as junior outside hitter Jackie Williams (Rocky River, Ohio/Magnificat) and senior outside hitterJan Kehres (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) each finished with nine kills and stellar attack percentages of .389 or higher. Junior middle hitter Jessica Kimble (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont) added five kills and a .444 attack percentage.
Setting things up was the tandem of senior Sarah Matesich (Granville, Ohio/Newark Catholic) and sophomore Erin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston). They combined for 41 assists in the match. Defensively, the Tigers spread the wealth, with junior libero Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula)leading the way with 12 digs.
The second match was lop-sided from the start, and reserves made the most of their playing time. Freshman outside hitter Amy Cox (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) and sophomore outside hitter Leslie Clark (Marion, Ohio/Harding) led the way with seven kills apiece, while sophomore middle hitter Kate Snead (Westerville, Ohio/South) added six kills. Snead finished with an attack percentage of .353, and Cox topped all players with a phenomenal .545 attack percentage.
Sophomore setter Kendall Obreza (Gainesville, Fla./Oak Hall) dished out 23 assists, while Fender had a big match with 21 digs.