Wittenberg Moves into National Semi-finals
Wards Off Early Strength from Trinity
Box Score

November 16, 2006

SALEM, Va. – It was Tigers vs. Tigers in the third quarterfinal match of the Division III NCAA Volleyball Tournament.  Trinity University and Wittenberg College clawed their way through each point of the contest, with both teams being evenly matched.  In the end Wittenberg came out on top with a 3-0 (30-28, 30-29, 30-18) victory.   

Trinity started off convincingly with an early lead in the first game.  With the score of 27-24 and Trinity on the brink of victory, a couple of errors and a few good serves from Wittenberg swung the rhythm in favor of the Wittenberg Tigers. 

“You play to the level you pass, and today our passing of serve was good enough for us to run our offense,” stated Wittenberg head coach Paco Labrador.  “We were able to slow down Trinity to get more points on the board.” 

Wittenberg was strong on both sides of the ball.  The Tigers had 60 digs on the night with libero Laura Fender averaging six digs a game.  Outside hitters Emily Bell and Jackie Williams added 16 kills each to the Tiger’s winning offense.

The Trinity Tigers’ Sara Buros played well offensively despite Wittenberg’s defense with 12 kills on the night.  Elisabeth Stuart’s 32 assits allowed the other Trinity attackers to earn 26 kills for the match. Defensive specialist Leah Goldstein averaged a little over five digs a game.  

The second game started off much like the first with the points going back and forth.  Lead by a couple of kills from Bell, the Wittenberg Tigers started an eight-point run.  Trinity head coach Julie Jenkins made some key substitutions that helped put an end to Wittenberg’s string of points, but the Wittenberg Tigers fought through it and took the win.

Wittenberg started off the last game with a quick 14-7 lead.  The Tiger’s lead wavered a little when Trinity’s Goldstein rattled off three points via the serve.  As in the second game, Wittenberg remained strong and claimed the third and final stanza.

“You have to keep the level of intensity up,” stated Coach Labrador.  “It is easy to lose track of intensity in something like this.  If you have fire and fight you will always have a shot.”

After a nearly perfect season, the Trinity Tigers finish off the season with a 38 -2 record.  The Wittenberg Tigers will take on the winner of the Juniata College and United States Coast Guard Academy match-up November 16, at 7pm.   

For more information on the tournament, its teams, and match specifics, please visit the online home of the tournament at http://odac.bridgewater.edu/ncaa_vball/.