The nationally ranked No. 11 Wittenberg Women's Volleyball team earned their 27th bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships over the weekend, clinching their 26th North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title with a 3-0 sweep of the Big Red from Denison University [25-14, 25-12, 25-21], in the championship match.
The Tigers wrapped up the 2022 campaign with a 23-4 overall record, including a 7-0 conference record. Wittenberg put together win-streaks of four, five and 11 matches throughout the season. The Tigers took 15 of their 23 wins by way of 3-0 sweeps.
Wittenberg has put together one of the most potent attacks across division III. The Tigers post the fourth best hitting percentage amongst NCAA DIII programs, with .260. Averaging nearly 14 kills per set (13.59), Wittenberg ranks among the top 10 in DIII at No. 8 for kills/set.
Wittenberg is led by graduate-senior Katie Hiestand coming off back-to-back All-NCAC Tournament MVP performances. A three-time first-team All-NCAC honoree, Hiestand has amassed 322 kills and 309 digs this season. Along the way, Hiestand has eclipsed the 1,000 career-kill and 1,000 career-dig mark so far this season. Not only has Hiestand established herself as one of the top hitters in the NCAC, she cracks the top 100 for kills/set at 3.54.
Sophomore Tyler Linkhart earned First Team All-NCAC honors for the second consecutive season while also being named to the NCAC All-Tournament team. Linkhart has established herself as one of the most dominant hitters in the DIII, posting a .331 hitting percentage, ranking her amongst the top 50 in DIII.
Sophomore Kendall Robertson cracks the top 40 in the nation for hitting-percentage, hitting .351 while earning All-NCAC Second Team honors for the first time in her career as a Tiger.
Junior Mack Ricketts comes in at No. 7 in NCAA DIII for assists per set with 10.47. After leading the conference in multiple categories, including assists per set, total assists, and service aces, Rickets collected First Team All-NCAC honors for the first time as a Tiger.
Sophomore Ava Hampton holds down the libero position for Wittenberg, averaging 4.29 digs/set. Hampton has tallied 20+ digs six times, reaching her season-high of 25 twice.
Wittenberg will travel to Grand Rapids, Mich. for their fourth consecutive NCAA regional appearance, where the Tigers will take on Hope College in round one. This will be their second match-up with the Flying Dutch this season, having already defeated Hope at the MIAA/NCAC Challenge, 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18), back on September 10. Wittenberg has made a home away from home at the Grand Rapids Regional, as the Tigers get set to make their 11th trip to Calvin University in NCAA postseason action. Wittenberg made their first appearance at the Grand Rapids regional in 2006 and has returned back for opening round action on what is to become the 8th separate occasion. The Tigers have captured two NCAA National Runner-Up finishes back in 2015 and 2017, and began their historic 2011 National Championship run from the Grand Rapids Regional.