Tigers Beat Oberlin To Clinch Share Of NCAC Championship

Head Coach Paco Labrador (left) celebrates Senior Recognition Day with Lexi Wredberg, Callan Swaim, Melissa Emming, Bryanna Jay, Kara Seidenstricker and Kristina Fultz. Photo by Nick Falzerano
Head Coach Paco Labrador (left) celebrates Senior Recognition Day with Lexi Wredberg, Callan Swaim, Melissa Emming, Bryanna Jay, Kara Seidenstricker and Kristina Fultz. Photo by Nick Falzerano

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers celebrated six accomplished seniors with a 3-0 victory over Oberlin that also clinched at least a share of the 2015 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season championship.

Before the match began, seniors Lexi Wredberg (Medina, Ohio/Buckeye)Melissa Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame), Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder), Bryanna Jay (Girard, Ohio/Girard), Kristina Fultz (Batavia, Ohio/Glen Este) and Callan Swaim (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville) were recognized for their achievements over the last four years. As a group, they have compiled a phenomenal 101-20 record in the Red & White, including the win over the Yeowomen.

The Tigers improved to 20-2 overall and 7-0 in the NCAC, and it was Wittenberg's 58th straight regular season league victory, dating back to 2012. The Tigers have now won 21 NCAC regular season titles, and Wittenberg is assured of hosting duties for the league tournament Nov. 6-7.

Oberlin fell to 7-14 overall and 2-5 in the NCAC. Wittenberg improved to 41-3 against the Yeowomen, who have not beaten the Tigers since 1989, a span of 36 straight matches.

Set scores in the latest Wittenberg win were 25-10, 25-15, 25-14. Oberlin managed just 19 kills against a whopping 32 attack errors, compared with Wittenberg's .184 attack percentage.

The Tiger offense was paced by sophomore Maddie Fischer (Minerva, Ohio/Minerva) and freshman setter Karen Wildemann (Columbus, Ind./South) with seven kills apiece. Wildemann turned in a tremendous all-around performance, adding 18 assists, four service aces, five digs and two blocks.

Emming led in digs with 11 and Fultz added nine. At the net, junior Kendall Farmer (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) paced the Tigers with five blocks.

Written By: Ryan Maurer