SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers trotted out new uniforms and a new lineup for the 2008 season opener. What didn't change was the end result as the Tigers pulled away from Cedarville for a 3-1 win.
Wittenberg, the No. 4 ranked team in the nation in the NCAA Division III American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll, picked up its first win of the season by set scores of 34-32, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 (NCAA volleyball changed its scoring system earlier this year). The loss was the first of the season for Cedarville, which had opened with two wins and a tournament title at Grace College a week earlier.
After two tense sets to open things, the Tigers made some adjustments and caught fire in the third and fourth sets. The Tiger offense became more efficient as the match moved along, eventually wearing down Cedarville's defense. On the flip side, Wittenberg's defense stiffened, in part due to the big block posed by junior middle hitter Kate Snead (Westerville, Ohio/South), who led all players with eight blocks.
"It was great to play a solid NAIA program like Cedarville to kick things off in 2008," Wittenberg Head Coach Paco Labrador said. "They have an excellent setter/middle hitter tandem that provided a challenge for us. Overall, this was a great win to start the season."
Offensively, the Tigers were paced by junior outside hitter Katherine Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson), who knocked 10 kills to the floor. Junior setter Erin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) added two aces and a match-high 16 assists.
Also of note was the play of junior libero Sara Heider (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont). Filling in for injured senior libero Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula), Heider finished with 19 digs, one shy of senior outside hitter Kathleen Graham (Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo St. Ursula) and her total of 20 digs.