Tigers End Regular Season With Two Wins In Texas

Kristina Fultz accumulated 10 kills against Hardin-Simmons as the Tigers won two matches in Texas on Saturday. File Photo | Erin Pence
Kristina Fultz accumulated 10 kills against Hardin-Simmons as the Tigers won two matches in Texas on Saturday. File Photo | Erin Pence

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Wittenberg volleyball rolled to two more wins in the Lone Star State on Saturday, sweeping Hardin-Simmons before beating Randolph-Macon 3-1 to improve to 24-3 overall to complete the regular season.

In the sweep of Hardin-Simmons, junior Kristina Fultz (Batavia, Ohio/Glen Este) accumulated 10 kills to lead the offense, backed up by the nine kills of junior Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) and seven by sophomore Kendall Farmer (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) on an attack percentage of .455.

Senior Meghan Vodopich (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) dished out 22 assists and senior Kiah Murray (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) had 19 digs, as the Tigers kept Hardin-Simmons under .200 hitting in each of the three sets. The final set scores were 25-23, 26-24, 25-16.

Randolph-Macon presented more of a challenge, stealing the third set from the Tigers. Seidenstricker stepped up to the challenge in a big way, slamming 14 kills, followed by 10 from Farmer. Vodopich again distributed 22 assists and Murray led the lineup with 18 digs.

Sophomore Emily Kahlig (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) contributed six blocks, including two solo, and Farmer one solo block and four assists. The Tigers ultimately won the match 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19.

After the tournament, it was announced that Farmer was named MVP of the competition, while Murray also earned a spot on the all-tournament team. The Tigers were named champions of the Trinity National Invitational after posting a 3-0 record over the weekend.

Wittenberg next hosts the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament, welcoming a field of eight teams to Pam Evans Smith Arena on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8. The Tigers begin against Wooster at 7 p.m. on Friday.

John Strawn '07