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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers completed their death march of an opening to the 2010 season with a perfect 4-0 performance at the Border Battle in Pam Evans Smith Arena. On Day 2 of the annual competition, Wittenberg toppled its seventh nationally ranked opponent in sixth-ranked Hope before capping the weekend with a win over Alma, which came into the Border Battle undefeated on the young season.
The Tigers have plenty of momentum heading into the start of North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) action next weekend at Hiram. Wittenberg, ranked fifth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, is now 10-1, with the Tigers' lone loss coming at No. 1 Washington University last weekend.
Against Hope, junior Hannah Riley (Minerva, Ohio/Minerva) turned in an outstanding performance with a team season-high eight aces. Offensively, the Tigers were paced by junior Kimmie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) with 14 kills and a .361 attack percentage and junior Katie Sumner (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson) with eight kills and a .368 attack percentage. Senior Amy Cox (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) turned in her typical stellar performance, finishing with 36 assists, while the defense was sparked by sophomore Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) with 19 digs.
Against Alma, Dyer again led in kills with 11 on a .417 attack percentage, followed by Sumner and junior Miranda Sagle (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) with eight kills each and matching attack percentages of .571. Cox dished out 36 assists, while Gilene rounded out the statistical leaders with 19 digs.
For the fifth time in six all-time Border Battle competitions, Ohio was victorious, winning 10 of the 16 matches. Wittenberg and 19th-ranked Heidelberg were both a perfect 4-0 on the weekend to lead the Ohio side, while Mount St. Joseph and 12th-ranked Ohio Northern were both 1-3. Fourth-ranked Calvin bounced back from an 0-2 performance on Day 1 to finish 2-2 in the tournament, while sixth-ranked Hope and Alma both finished 1-3. 25th-ranked Concordia College from Moorhead, Minn., playing as part of the Michigan side this weekend, also finished 2-2.
Three Tigers were named to the all-tournament team for the Ohio side following the completion of play: Cox, Sagle and junior Christine Simpson (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto).