Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg women's volleyball team captured their 12th straight North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title over the weekend. The Tigers started the weekend off with a first-round bye, advancing to the semifinals where they awaited the Ladies of Kenyon College in their semifinal match. After defeating the Ladies 3-1 (22-25, 25-13, 25-10, 25-11) in the semifinals, Wittenberg advanced to their 24th NCAC Tournament Championship match, where they would face off against the Terriers of Hiram College. The Tigers took down the Terriers 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-20) to claim the 2018 NCAC Tournament Championship, adding the 17th overall title in program history.
�� ⚪ Quick volleyball recap of @witt_wvball's win over the Terriers to claim the 24th @NCAC tournament win in program history. Way to go Tigers, that's how we #TigerUp! �� ⚪ pic.twitter.com/S3qph6HRr5
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
Tournament Championship Breakdown
After Kenyon took a shocking first set from the Tigers to start the semifinals. Wittenberg responded by logging a .247 attacking percentage in the match. Katie Hiestand paced the Wittenberg offense against the Ladies of Kenyon College with 12 kills, smashing a .414 attacking percentage while adding five digs. Following close behind in the match was Aubrey Cox and Taylor Brown supplying the support with 11 kills each. Brown finished the match against the Ladies with 19 digs and two service aces. Following up her stellar semifinal performance, Brown led the way in the Championship game with 10 kills, swinging .588 with eight digs and three blocks. Cox was not far off in the final match, putting down eight kills on the Hiram side of the night while adding six blocks. Finishing the weekend with 79 assists and 28 digs, Karen Wildemann added seven kills in the final match while recording two blocks against the Terriers. Over the weekend Wildemann was also able to eclipse the 3,000-assist mark for the Tigers, she currently sits at fourth amongst the all-time Tiger greats. Taylor Yontz rounded out her 2018 NCAC Tournament with 39 digs for the red and white.
The Thread
�� @NCAC SEMIFINAL ��
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
��: @wittenbergvb vs. Kenyon
��️: 11:00 AM
��: https://t.co/dRvDB2Fi9g#TigerUp pic.twitter.com/r6d2e4XpWj
The Tigers bounce back in the second set, as @wittenbergvb brings the match back to even at 1-1 with a 25-13 set two win in the @NCAC Tournament Semifinal! #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/xSP5tfmKkn
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
.@wittenbergvb Takes the second set 25-13 in the NCAV Semifinals! pic.twitter.com/LQbSaT6ICm
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
.@wittenbergvb is one set away from advancing to the 2018 @NCAC Tournament Final, taking the third set from Kenyon 25-10! #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/S1L56Jp2OA
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
WittVB takes the second set 25-13��‼️ pic.twitter.com/v6KxmHu0LX
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
WittVB runs away with the third set 25-10��‼️ pic.twitter.com/maKjwRBk0k
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
WITTVB wins the fourth set 25-11 and advances to the NCAC conference finals! pic.twitter.com/vFsRyRBszn
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
��: @witt_wvball advances on to the @NCAC Tournament Championship after a 3-1 win over the Kenyon Ladies �� #TigerUp ⚪ pic.twitter.com/pRruQsD2U6
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
��: @witt_wvball will take on 3-seed Hiram in the @NCAC Tournament Championship �� #TigerUp ⚪ pic.twitter.com/ZJo0khSMnn
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
��NCAC Volleyball Tournament Final��
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
Listen in LIVE on https://t.co/LdQaWfH2uQ, brought to you by coach Ryan Thompson and senior Isaiah Brock of @wittmvb #TigerUp pic.twitter.com/nH6XTQXJCg
WITT WVB Takes the first set 25-21! pic.twitter.com/m373Gn2wy3
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
The Tigers go up 2-0, finishing set two 25-20!! pic.twitter.com/001Fw4RkUC
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
Tigers take the third set 25-20 and claim the 2018 NCAC Tournament title! pic.twitter.com/tyQukpK6kw
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
YOUR 2018 @NCAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS! #TigerUp @wittenbergvb pic.twitter.com/TiciZtv4tL
— Wittenberg Athletics (@WittAthletics) November 3, 2018
All-Tournament Team
Suzanne Peters, DePauw
Delaney Swanson, Kenyon
Holly Hoffman, Hiram
Kiara Franks, Hiram
Kennedey Schmidt, Wittenberg
Karen Wildemann, Wittenberg
Tournament MVP – Taylor Brown, Wittenberg
UP NEXT
Don't miss the NCAA DIII Women's Volleyball Selection Show Monday, Nov. 5 at 12:30 PM on NCAA.com to check out where the Tigers will head on their regional stop of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.