SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - In a match-up of preseason NCAA Division III top-five ranked teams, fourth-ranked Wittenberg dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to second-ranked defending national champion Juniata on Friday in Wittenberg's HPER Center in the season opener for both teams.

Both teams are replacing numerous standout players, and the inexperience showed at times in some shaky ball control and passing. But both Juniata and Wittenberg served notice that they will be forces to be reckoned with again in 2005.

Wittenberg got the best of things early, but Juniata rallied from a 30-20 first-game loss to even things up. Wittenberg led 23-14 in Game 2 before Juniata went on a match-altering 10-0 run. The lead seesawed back and forth from that point before the Tigers made a pair of errors with the score tied at 31-31. Wittenberg was again dominant in Game 3, thanks in part to a five-point run served by freshman Laura Fender that widened a precarious 20-18 lead to 25-18 and eventually led to a 30-22 victory. Game 4 was almost all Juniata, setting up a decisive fifth game, which featured one last decisive Juniata rally. This time, the Tigers led 12-10 but couldn't close the door, yielding five of the final six points.

Wittenberg got tremendous performances from its sophomore outside hitting tandem of Lindsey Penrod and Emily, who finished with 13 and 17 kills respectively. Penrod knocked down a phenomenal 12 kills on 21 attempts in the match. Defensively, Fender had a fine first collegiate performance, contributing 29 digs in the libero position, while sophomore middle hitter Caitlin Augustus made the most of her first career start with five blocks.

Both teams are back in action Saturday in the HPER Center against Otterbein. Juniata takes the court at 11 a.m. and Wittenberg plays at 2 p.m.