OBERLIN, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers haven't lost in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season play since 2005, and it doesn't appear they have any plans to start a new pattern anytime soon after they took care of business with a 3-0 win at Oberlin.
The win was Wittenberg's 45th straight in NCAC regular season play and the Tigers' 10th consecutive in the 2008 season in shutout fashion. The fifth-ranked Tigers improved to 22-2 overall with the 25-14, 25-18, 25-17 victory.
If Wittenberg is to round into national championship caliber form in the coming weeks, senior libero Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) will have a lot to do with that continued improvement. Ranked No. 2 in school history for career digs at the start of the season, Fender continued to close in on the record with a team-high 17 digs against Oberlin.
Also making contributions of note - at least on the stats sheet - were senior middle hitter Jessica Kimble (Dennison, Ohio/Claymont) with team-highs of four blocks and 10 kills and freshman middle hitter Katie Sumner (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson)with seven kills and three aces.
The quarterbacks were up to form against the Yeowomen as well, as junior settersErin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) and Kendall Obreza (Gainesville, Fla./Oak Hall) teamed up for 37 assists.