Wittenberg Opens Home Slate with CWPA Regional Weekend

Junior Savannah Phillips had a breakout weekend for the Tigers as part of the CWPA Regional Conference Tournament
Junior Savannah Phillips had a breakout weekend for the Tigers as part of the CWPA Regional Conference Tournament

Story written by Emma Menjivar '22

Springfield, Ohio- The Wittenberg University Women's Water Polo team hosted the first-ever varsity matches in the 1982 Natatorium last weekend (March 2-3) as the Tigers played host to Austin College, Carthage College, Macalester University and Monmouth College (IL) for a CWPA Regional Conference Tournament. The Tigers did go 0-4 on the weekend, but three of those four losses were decided by three goals each, including a 7-4 decision against Carthage, a 9-6 setback against Austin and finally a 16-13 loss against Monmouth.

Weekend Breakdown 

Starting off the weekend the Tigers went head to head against the Lady Reds of Carthage College. Fighting hard, the Tigers fell within the last half of the game against Carthage, 7-4. The second game of the tournament was another hard fight for the Tigers against the Roo's of Austin College, also a first-year varsity program. As the Red & White battled for the win against Austin College, they ultimately fell three goals short of what they needed against the Roos.

Going into day two of their first home CWPA tournament, the Wittenberg Tigers faced No. 8 Macalester University. Putting up a strong game, the Tigers fell 15-4 to the Macalester Scots. With one final game left in the weekend the Tigers kept up a long and hard battle against No. 10 Monmouth College, ending in a 16-13 victory for the Scots of Monmouth. 

Who Stood Out 

Freshman goalie Anya Bennett averaged 13.0 blocks per game over the weekend, earning her a second honorable mention for defensive Player of the Week by the CWPA. Junior Savanah Phillips also received for the second week in a row honorable mention accolades by the CWPA for Offensive Player of the Week for her great offensive work over the weekend, which included scoring the only four goals scored against Macalester. Cali Spring received her first honorable mention award of the season by the CWPA for rookie of the week after scoring several goals over the course of the weekend. 

Up Next 

The Wittenberg Tigers will now take on Div. I Indiana this Thursday, March 7, at 7:00 PM in the Hoosier state.