SPRINGFIELD, Ohio-- #4 Wittenberg women's volleyball captured their 11th straight NCAC tournament title on Saturday with a 3-0 victory over DePauw University. The Tigers title is their 23rd NCAC volleyball tournament title, the most in the league, as Paco Labrador's team has booked their ticket to the Division III NCAA Volleyball Tournament. In a different format than years past, the Tigers received an automatic two-round bye in the NCAC tournament, gaining some much-needed rest before taking down Denison Saturday morning 3-0. DePauw received the same treatment as the #2 seed in the tournament, dispatching OWU 3-1 and earning a spot in the rematch of the last three NCAC title games. Wittenberg now awaits the NCAA Division III selection show on Monday to learn where they will be headed in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Wittenberg made quick work of DePauw in straight sets, 25-23, 28-26 and 25-18. For the fourth straight NCAC Tournament, the Tigers battled DePauw in the championship, as Wittenberg took the team from Greencastle in straights sets for the second consecutive season.
WHO STOOD OUT: Aubrey Cox earned tournament MVP honors after totaling 18 kills on the day, eight against Denison and ten against DePauw. Maddie Fischer also earned NCAC All-Tournament honors after being named the NCAC Player of the Year a day earlier. Kennedey Schmidt produced time and time again this year for the Tigers in a big way as the junior recorded 16 kills on the day, and All-NCAC Tournament honors.
WHAT IT MEANS: Wittenberg now awaits Monday's selection 12:30PM selection show to see where they will head for NCAA Tournament action. Wittenberg's 11th straight NCAC tournament title came during a season that saw the Tigers grace the #1 spot on the AVCA Coaches Top-25 poll for most of the season. Wittenberg's 23 NCAC Volleyball tournament titles leads the NCAC by a dominant margin, as the Tigers now shift their focus to avenge an early exit in NCAA play a year ago. Wittenberg still holds on to the #4 ranking in all of Division III, as the Tigers will see where they land on a regional and national level as conference tournament play continues to wrap up this weekend.