Tigers Rally For Split On Final Day of NCAC/MIAA Challenge

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Wittenberg Women's Volleyball wrapped up a busy weekend against top-flight competition with a split on Day 2 of the annual NCAC/MIAA Challenge, hosted this year by Calvin College. The Tigers started the day with a 3-0 loss to second-ranked Hope College before beating Albion 3-1.

The split left the Tigers with a 3-3 overall record on the young season. The third week of the season will follow a similar script as Wittenberg heads to Georgia to compete in tthe Berry Invitational on Friday, September 12, and Saturday, September 13.

Hope overwhelmed Wittenberg in the first set, winning 25-8, and the Flying Dutch followed that with set scores of 25-19 and 25-21 to complete the sweep. Hope posted a second straight 3-0 weekend to open the 2024 season.

Piper Ricketts (Morrow, OH Little Miami) topped Wittenberg offensively with seven kills, followed closely by Alana Bartulovic (Cleveland, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) with six kills, and Clare O'Malley (Avon, OH / St. Joseph's Academy) with five kills. Mary Sulfridge (South Charleston, OH / Southeastern) dished out 15 assists and Maddie Duff (Monroe, OH / Monroe) added nine assists, while Ally White (Harrison, OH / Harrison) and Ava Golem (Kirtland, OH / Kirtland) topped the team in digs with 11 and 10, respectively.

After dropping the opening set against Albion, 25-21, the Tigers rallied to win three straight by scores of 28-26, 25-18, 28-26. The loss dropped the Britons to 0-6 on the season.

Kendall Black (Defiance, OH / Defiance) led Wittenberg offensively with 11 kills, followed by Ricketts and O'Malley with 10 kills each. Sulfridge handed out 26 assists, while Duff added 10 assists. O'Malley piled up five blocks to spark the Tiger defense, and Golem led the way in digs with 17, followed by White with 15.