Tigers Romp Past Oberlin Into NCAC Tournament Semifinals

Meghan Vodopich (21) rang up 12 assists in a 3-0 win over Oberlin on Friday in the NCAC Tournament quarterfinals. File Photo | Erin Pence
Meghan Vodopich (21) rang up 12 assists in a 3-0 win over Oberlin on Friday in the NCAC Tournament quarterfinals. File Photo | Erin Pence

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Top-seeded Wittenberg took care of business in the opening round of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament, dispatching eighth-seeded Oberlin by a 3-0 count.

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The Tigers advanced to 23-4 overall after winning the NCAC regular season title for the seventh straight year and 18th time since joining the league in 1989. Oberlin fell to 9-17 overall and finishing 1-7 in the NCAC regular season.

Wittenberg won six of the first seven points of the match and never looked back. Oberlin was limited to a -.021 attack percentage in the match, compared to .273 for the Tigers, who pounded 37 kills in 99 attempts overall.

Offensively, Wittenberg spread the wealth as seven different players recorded at least two kills and six different players recorded at least three digs in the match.

At the net, junior Andrea Behling (Columbus, Ind./North) led with nine kills, followed closely by freshman Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Plain City) with seven, freshman Melissa Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) with six, sophomore Meghan Vodopich (Canton, Ohio/Perry) with five and freshman Haley Mucha (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) and senior Jessica Batanian (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame) with four apiece.

Mucha added a whopping five blocks, while Seidenstricker contributed nine digs. The leader in the latter category was senior libero Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) with 21.

Wittenberg advanced to the tournament semifinals against fifth-seeded Wooster at noon on Saturday. Oberlin will take on fourth-seeded Denison at 10 a.m. in a consolation match.