SPRINGFIELD,Ohio-- It is not too often that an athletic department with such rich athletic tradition has the ability to add a varsity sport and have success right away. Wittenberg University did just that in 2016, as the Tigers added men's volleyball to the list of varsity sports as first-year coach Evan Amstutz and his group of freshman embarked on a year of firsts.

The young team was a part of a first year league in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL), which included a handful of other universities that added the sport for 2016. Of all the schools that added the varsity sport, it was Wittenberg without question who garnished the most success on the court.

The Tigers held a mark of 14-11 overall, and finished 4-9 in the MCVL, a conference that currently has four member teams ranked in the top ten of the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. One might say that the Tigers held their own in 2016, but more importantly, they made sure to see how everyone else in the community was holding up, ending their first campaign with a week of service.

"We truly believe that the only way to truly say thank you is by actively serving those around us. We've had a ton of support this season, and will be looking for more ways to give back to the Wittenberg and local Springfield communities," said coach Amstutz.

While the inaugural season ended with losses to the number ten and number two ranked teams in the country, the men's volleyball season can be relived below as we take a closer look at the year that was; Wittenberg men's volleyball.

WITTENBERG QUAD

• The home team managed to get out to a hot-start, going 3-0 in the inaugural invitational.
• Wittenberg managed to dispose of its opponents in its opening weekend at a packed Pam Evans Smith Arena by winning all three matches in just three sets.
• Olivet (25-14, 25-13, and 25-18)
• Adrian (25-9, 25-11, and 25-22)
• Hilbert (25-15, 25-20, and 25-21)

JIM COLEMAN MEMORIAL INVITATIONAL

• The tournament was named in honor of Wittenberg alumnus Jim Coleman, member of International Volleyball Hall of Fame and Wittenberg Athletic Hall of Honor. During this lifetime, Coleman coached the United States national men's volleyball team and took part in seven Olympic games.
• In impressive fashion, the Tiger's first season kept rolling with three more wins to move the young team to a 6-0 mark.
• 3-2 vs. Cal Lutheran (27-25, 19-25, 25-22, 19-25, and 15-11)
• 3-1 vs. North Central (25-21, 14-25, 25-18, and 25-15)
• 3-2 vs. #7 ranked Juniata (13-25, 26-24, 18-25, 26-24, and 16-14)
• Ross Russell, Freshman Setter (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) named All-Tournament Team

MARCH SPRING BREAK TRIP

• Wittenberg took to the road for eight games, five on the east coast and three in the Midwest as the team finished 4-4 against top competition.
• EAST COAST
  • 3-1 Loss to SUNY Poly (18-25, 25-23, 19-25, and 26-28)
  • 3-1 Win at Wells (25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 25-20)
  • 3-0 Win at Brooklyn (25-19, 25-6, and 25-17)
  • 3-0 Win at Yeshiva on (25-11, 25-15, and 25-15)
  • 3-0 Win vs. Sarah Lawrence (25-5, 25-16, and 25-7)
  • MIDWEST
    • 3-1 Loss to Stevenson (22-25, 18-25, 25-19, and 19-25)
    • 3-0 Loss at North Central (27-29, 14-25, and 21-25)
    • 3-2 Loss at Loras (29-27, 20-25, 25-22, 16-25, and 11-25)

WEEK OF SERVICE

The team utilized their last week of competition as a means to thank those in the community who made their inaugural season possible here is what they did:

The week started off with Operation Gratitude, where the team took the time to write letters to deployed soldiers overseas. Following the writing campaign, the team shifted there focuses to a big issue in today's society in the form of, Project Women. On this day, all of the student-athletes packed supplies for the maintenance of the women's center in Springfield.

"This is an organization that is devoted to offering shelter to women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, and as a men's program, we strongly believe that this is a cause we need to support and bring awareness to," said Coach Amstutz.

The week concluded with the team writing letters to faculty and staff that have supported the program and Wittenberg Athletics, thanking them for there constant support and everything they have done to make the first season nothing short of a successful one. A big part of that group that was not faculty or staff, was the women's volleyball program at Wittenberg.

The girls put in consistent time and effort on game day to make sure everything ran smooth from the stats, to court setup, to concessions every match. The men's team thanked their counterparts by organizing the women's volleyball equipment, as the team prepares for their nontraditional season. Wrapping up the week of service, the program took the time to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Pantry in Springfield, as well as help out at a local youth instructional volleyball league in the greater Dayton area.