SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg volleyball team was up to a fairly unique weekend challenge. Playing four matches in three locations in 24 hours, the Wittenberg Tigers put together an undefeated weekend.
The Tigers improved to 14-4 overall on the season and 5-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference after defeating Oberlin, 3-0, on Friday night, and then topping Wooster, 3-0, Baldwin-Wallace, 3-1, and Ohio Wesleyan, 3-0, on Saturday. Wittenberg played at Oberlin, took on Wooster and B-W on the Scots' home floor, and capped things with a drive-by at OWU en route to Springfield.
Against Wooster, the Tigers dominated by scores of 30-16, 30-20, 30-20. The defensive numbers were the most impressive for Wittenberg as sophomore Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) finished with 19 digs and sophomore Brittany Steinbrecher (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) led with five blocks. Offensively, junior Jan Kehres (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) contributed three aces and sophomore Jackie Williams (Rocky River, Ohio/Magnificat) and junior Caitlin Augustus (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) combined for 19 kills.
Taking on Baldwin-Wallace next, the Tigers were forced to come from behind before taking a 28-30, 30-17, 30-26, 30-23 decision. Kehres had a big all-around performance with three aces, 15 kills and 24 digs. In addition, Fender contributed three aces and 21 digs, Augustus finished with seven blocks, Williams led the offense with 15 kills and junior Emily Bell (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran)rounded things out with 20 digs.
A short road trip later, the Tigers eased past Ohio Wesleyan by scores of 30-21, 30-18, 30-21. Kehres was on it again, finishing with 18 kills and three errors on 34 attack attempts for a kill percentage of nearly .500. Bell added 18 kills and 16 digs, Fender had 16 digs and sophomore Jessica Kimble (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont)capped her day with four blocks.