Granville, OH – With two wins coming both in straight sets, the Wittenberg women's volleyball team earned their 25th North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title in program history. The Tigers defeated Ohio Wesleyan in the semifinal match 3-0 [25-22, 25-16, 25-18] to start the day. Wittenberg earned their way into their 26th NCAC Tournament final match, sweeping the Fighting Scots from the College of Wooster, 3-0 [25-19, 25-20, 25-10].
The Tigers put on an offensive clinic in the first match as four Tigers tallied double-digit kills. Gabi Hancock and Tyler Linkhart put down team-leading 14 kills. Hancock put together a .765 hitting-percentage on the day coming on 17 attacks and just one error, adding three blocks up front. Katie Hiestand led the Tiger attack with 34 total swings, putting down 13 kills for a .324 hitting percentage. Hiestand kept the Wittenberg offense alive with a team-high 15 digs to go along with her three blocks. Hannah Schartz added to the Tiger attack, putting down 10 kills on 33 swings. NCAC Libero of the Year, Dakota White tabbed 14 digs and a service ace, while Mack Ricketts facilitated the offense with 47 of 52 assists.
Wittenberg sealed the deal with a 3-0 sweep in the championship match over the College of Wooster. Once again, Hiestand and Schartz would lead the way for the Tiger attack putting down double-digit kills. Hiestand put down 11 kills in the final match with 35 total attempts with just two errors and adding 14 digs to her tally. White added 14 digs in the final match for the Tigers. Ricketts tallied 34 assists with three aces.
This was the first time Wittenberg and Wooster met in an NCAC Tournament Championship match. Wittenberg claimed their last NCAC Tournament crown in 2018, taking down Hiram. The Tigers will make their 26th NCAA DIII Women's Volleyball Tournament appearance, awaiting their match-up via the selection show on Monday afternoon.