ST. LOUIS, MO. - Consistency isn't usually a hallmark of a young team when it hits the road for the first team, especially when the trip is many miles from its home campus with multiple top-ranked teams involved. After a sterling win over Great Lakes Region rival Ohio Northern in the opener of the Washington University National Invitational, the Wittenberg Tigers crashed back to earth with a 3-0 loss to homestanding Washington University.

The home team was a national runner-up in 2004 and has been perhaps the most dominant team in all of NCAA Division III for at least a decade. In 2005, the Bears opened the campaign ranked first by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The games scores were 30-19, 30-22, 30-27. The Tigers' statistical highlight was provided by freshman outside hitter Jackie Williams, who finished with 10 kills in her first extended collegiate playing time.