SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Express continued to steamroll through the 2008 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) competition as the Tigers clinched at least a share of the regular season title with a 3-0 win over visiting Allegheny.
The fifth-ranked Tigers won for the 17th straight time to improve to 26-2 overall and 13-0 in the NCAC. After capturing the first two sets by wide margins of 25-15, 25-13, the Gators put up a better fight in the third and final set before falling 25-23.
The Tigers served well in this match, jumping out to big leads in the first two sets on the strength of big runs by its initial servers. The Gators were unable to gain any kind of offensive rhythm as a result, frequently scrambling to stay in points until the Tigers finally either picked up a block or a kill to end them.
Junior outside hitter Leslie Clark (Marion, Ohio/Harding) turned in a fine all-around performance for the Tigers, finishing with seven digs, three blocks and a team-high nine kills. Also of note was the play of junior middle hitter Kate Snead (Westerville, ohio/South) with four blocks and six kills and junior setter Erin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) with two aces and 19 assists.
Defensively, the Tigers were paced by senior libero Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) with 16 digs. Junior setter Kendall Obreza (Gainesville, Fla./Oak Hall) added 10 digs and 10 assists.
The Tigers, who have not dropped a set in NCAC play this year, look to clinch the outright conference title at noon Saturday against Hiram, the only conference team to beat Wittenberg since the start of the century. After Hiram plays Capital at 2 p.m., also at Wittenberg, the Tigers wrap up the non-conference portion of their regular season schedule with an important Great Lakes Region match against the Crusaders.