Tigers Prepare For Higher Titles

The Wittenberg University Tigers have bigger goals than the NCAC regular season championship in 2001. With four straight NCAC titles under their belts, the Tigers can hardly be blamed for setting their sights higher.

First things first, however, and the Tigers got a scare this weekend. In a tri-match on Saturday at Allegheny College, Wittenberg easily defeated the host Gators in the opening match before being extended to five sets by Denison in a rematch of last year's NCAC tournament finale.

Freshman outside hitter Monica McDonald (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) was outstanding in the two matches, pounding 59 kills, including 36 against Denison. McDonald ranks among the league leaders in kills per game with 4.56 on the season. Also, freshman setter Sarah Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) led the team in assists in both matches as she continues to split time with last year's NCAC Player of the Year, junior setter Shelli Habegger (Curtice, Ohio/Oregon Clay).

The Tigers return to action on Wednesday at home against NCAC rival Ohio Wesleyan. The match will be televised three times over the following week on tape delay by Time Warner Cable in the Dayton area. Veteran broadcaster Marty Bannister and former Wittenberg player Laura Mayer will call the match.

Then this weekend, the Tigers host their first Wittenberg National Invitational at the HPER Center. The field includes Thomas More, the 12th-ranked host Tigers, and nationally ranked Juniata, Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mt. St. Joseph, all national quarterfinalists in 2000.