Sweep Of Heidelberg Propels Tigers Into Regional Final

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Wittenberg Tigers continued to spread the wealth on offense, and the result was a dominating performance in a 3-0 win over Heidelberg in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The win takes Wittenberg back to a familiar place in the national tournament. The Tigers will make their sixth straight appearance in a regional championship match at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, against host Juniata. Wittenberg is 1-4 in regional finals the last five years, including three straight 3-2 losses - two at Calvin and last year against Hope.

Three of Wittenberg's four losses in regional championship matches since 2010 have come against the eventual national champion. The Tigers' lone breakthrough came at then-No. 1 ranked Calvin in 2011, and Wittenberg went on from there to win nine straight sets and the program's lone NCAA Division III Tournament title.

Head Coach Paco Labrador certainly hopes to see a similar result in 2015, and his team's newly diversified offensive attack figures to be a key component against the Eagles, who are ranked third nationally. Juniata defeated Wittenberg in the Tigers' National Invitational on Sept. 5.

The Tigers attacked Heidelberg at a .378 percentage as four different players finished with at least 18 attempts. A total of six different players were set at least nine times in the match, with four players contributing at least seven kills.

Wittenberg pounded 49 kills against just seven errors in 111 attempts, compared to Heidelberg's .159 attack percentage.

The set scores reflected Wittenberg's efficient attack, starting with comfortable margins of 25-19 and 25-17 in the first two frames. Heidelberg rallied in the third set, but Wittenberg had just enough answers to pull out a 26-24 decision.

Senior Melissa Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) led with 13 kills and a personal-best .522 attack percentage. Senior Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) added 11 kills and a .455 attack percentage, while junior Camila Quiñones (Sunbury, Ohio/Worthington Christian) chipped in with eight kills in 18 swings of her own.

Junior setter Courtney Huck (Decatur, Ill./St. Teresa) dished out 21 assists, while freshman Megan Flaherty (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) finished with 17. On defense, senior Kristina Fultz (Batavia, Ohio/Glen Este) led with 17 digs, followed closely by Seidenstricker with 16.

Written By: Ryan Maurer