Setter Erin Slattery, class of 2010, talks strategy with Assistant Coach Brittany Baume, class of 2003, during the 2007 NCAA Division III Regional Championship match.

Springfield, Ohio — With a reputation as a perennial national title contender burnished by three consecutive runs to the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals, the Wittenberg Tigers have earned the respect of voters in the 2008 CBS College Sports Network/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll. Wittenberg, which has finished the season ranked in the top five each of the last four years, will start the 2008 campaign ranked No. 4.

The Tigers are coming off a 2007 season that will be almost impossible to top. First, Wittenberg extended its phenomenal run in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season play to 96 wins in its last 97 matches, stretching back to the 1997 season. The 14-0 NCAC regular season record was good for the Tigers' fourth title in Head Coach Paco Labrador's five years and the 10th title in the last 11 years for Wittenberg overall.

After capturing their 10th NCAC Tournament title in the last 11 years as well, the Tigers entered the NCAA Division III Tournament as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation and the last unbeaten team at any level of collegiate volleyball. After capturing their fifth NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region in the last six years, the Tigers bowed out in the national semifinals for a third straight year, this time falling to eventual national champion Washington University.

Wittenberg finished 38-1 overall in 2007 to easily surpass the school and NCAC records for wins in a season, consecutive matches won and consecutive games won.

Despite the loss of an outstanding five-person senior class, the Tigers have set their sights high again in 2008. The returning core of three seniors - All-American right side hitter Jackie Williams, class of 2009 from Rocky River, Ohio, libero Laura Fender, class of 2009 from Toledo, Ohio, and middle hitter Jessica Kimble, class of 2009 from Dennison, Ohio - have known nothing but astounding success in their collegiate careers after three straight trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament semifinals. Their quest for more in 2008 starts with a home date against NAIA scholarship program Cedarville University at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30.

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