Tigers Finish Regular Season With 3-1 Win Over UMass-Boston

Head Coach Paco Labrador had his Tigers clicking on all cylinders as they ran their regular season record to 22-4 with a win over UMass-Boston. File Photo | Erin Pence
Head Coach Paco Labrador had his Tigers clicking on all cylinders as they ran their regular season record to 22-4 with a win over UMass-Boston. File Photo | Erin Pence

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Wittenberg Tigers put the finishing touches on another outstanding regular season with a 3-1 win over the University of Massachusetts-Boston at the Emory National Invitational.

The victory capped a 3-0 weekend for the third-ranked Tigers, who improved to 22-4 overall on the 2012 season. UMass-Boston dropped to 15-10.

The Tigers pounced early by set scores of 25-13, 25-19 before UMass-Boston answered with a 25-23 win in the third frame. Wittenberg bounced back well, however, with a 25-11 decision in the fourth set.

Wittenberg attacked extremely well throughout the match, with percentages ranging from .244 to .469 in the four sets. Individually, the leader was junior Andrea Behling (Columbus, Ind./North) at .550 as she pounded 12 kills against just one error in 20 attempts.

Interestingly, the Tigers were not credited with a single block in the match, but they had plenty of offense to make up for it. Freshman Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) and senior Jessica Batanian (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame) led with 13 kills apiece, while freshmen Melissa Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and Haley Mucha (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) added nine and eight kills, respectively.

A trio of Tigers handed the setting duties, led by sophomore Meghan Vodopich (Canton, Ohio/Perry) with 27 assists. Senior Jordan Mungovan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) added 19.

Wittenberg may not have had any blocks, but the Tigers did register 78 digs in the match, led by senior libero Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) with 27. Seidenstricker added 16 and Batanian added 13.

A trio of Tigers earned spots on the Emory National Invitational All-Tournament Team: senior setter Hallie Donathan (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe), Seidenstricker and Behling.