Tigers Overtake Kentucky State To Split Tri-Match Afternoon

Springfield, OH – The Wittenberg hosted Mount Vernon Nazerene and Kentucky State University for a tri-match series from Pam Evans Smith Arena. The Tigers split the day, dropping their opening match against the Cougars from Mt. Vernon Nazerene, 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 16-25, 28-30). Wittenberg returned to action for the final match of the day taking down Kentucky State in five sets, 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 24-26, 25-13, 15-3).

Wittenberg put together a .190 hitting-percentage to get the day started. Leading the Tiger attack, Eli Halverson put down 19 kills on 42 total attacks, posting a .238 kill-percentage. Halverson added six digs and two block assists to his total. Dominic Melchiorre put down nine kills on 16 total attacks with just two errors for a .438 hitting-percentage. Andrew Diaz de Padilla recorded 39 of the Tiger's 42 assists, adding four service aces and nine digs with three kills. Michael Yurk and Tom Supan each added five kills in the first match of the afternoon against the Cougars.

The Tigers battled it out with the Thorobreds of Kentucky State in their final match of the afternoon. Wittenberg posted a .277 hitting-percentage in their final match of the afternoon. The Tigers closed out the match with a .579 hitting-percentage with 11 kills on 19 attacks without an error. Yurk led the Tiger attack with 23 kills on 39 total swings with just two errors for a .538 hitting-percentage. Halverson added 11 kills on 27 total attacks with eight digs and two blocks. Diaz de Padilla tallied 24 assists with Sam Richardson adding 17.