|
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers continued their early-season march through the NCAA Division III Top 25, slaying two more giants on Day 1 of the 2010 Border Battle in Pam Evans Smith Arena.
The Tigers opened the competition with a 3-0 win over 25th-ranked Concordia College from Moorhead, Minn., which is playing for the Michigan side in 2010. Wittenberg closed the day with another 3-0 win, this time over perennial powerhouse Calvin College. The Tigers entered the Border Battle ranked fifth in the nation, while Calvin, which defeated Wittenberg in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament by a matching 3-0 score, came in unbeaten and ranked No. 4.
Against Concordia, the Tigers were in control from the outset, registering set scores of 25-14, 25-19, 25-20. Juniors Miranda Sagle (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) and Kimmie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) combined for 16 kills in the match, with senior Amy Cox (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) dishing out 34 assists. Junior Katie Sumner (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson) added four blocks.
Against Calvin, the Tigers again took an early lead and never looked back, posting set scores of 25-23, 25-17, 25-16. Junior Hillary Monnin (Russia, Ohio/Russia) led the offense with nine kills, while Sagle was solid again with five kills. Cox distributed 28 assists, while the defense was spearheaded by Sumner with four blocks and sophomore Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) with 17 digs.
No rest for the weary, as the Tigers get right back into action Saturday with a pair of difficult challenges. Wittenberg opens with No. 6 Hope, a 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament semifinalist, at noon, followed by Alma, which is 8-1 on the season after upsetting 12th-ranked Ohio Northern on Day 1 of the Border Battle.
Ohio is once again leading the competition for state bragging rights, with the four teams from the Buckeye State out to a commanding 6-2 lead after the first day of competition. Michigan has never won the Border Battle, although the two sides tied 8-8 in 2006.
Wittenberg and 19th-ranked Heidelberg both finished the day 2-0, while Calvin wound up a surprising 0-2. Alma, Hope, Mount St. Joseph and Ohio Northern all enter Day 2 with 1-1 marks.