Tigers Take First in Their Second Hosted Tournament of the Season

Lindsay Nelson

Sarah Yuskewich

Somebody forgot to tell the Tiger volleyball team to read the script before the start of the first-ever Wittenberg National Quad. Facing three of the top six-ranked team in the nation - Washington University (1), Juniata (3) and Mount St. Joseph (6) - the Tigers came up with the goods to win the tournament and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with as the 2002 NCAA Division III tournament approaches.

What made the wins more remarkable was the fact that Wittenberg entered the tourney as the lowest ranked team of the four, checking in at No. 11 in the previous poll. Wittenberg moved all the way up to No. 3 in the latest AVCA poll, released on Wednesday, and No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region. The Tigers first test was Mount St. Joseph, a team that has been the nemesis of Wittenberg for several years. After numerous defeats against the Mountie Lions over the last two years, Wittenberg scored a stunning 3-0 win, 30-17, 30-23, 31-29. Sophomore outside hitter Monica McDonald (Newark, Ohio/Catholic) and junior outside hitter Lindsay Nelson (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) were the offensive standouts for the team with 17 and 16 kills respectively. Sophomore setter Sarah Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson)was her usual reliable self with 52 assists and four aces. Sophomore outside hitter Emilie Schmid (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) stepped up on defense with 11 digs.

Washington University, the No. 1 team in the nation and the Division III runner-up in 2001 was the next opponent, and once again the Tigers pulled off a stunner. The first game was tight as Wittenberg narrowly won 37-35, but that was as close as it got. The Tigers captured the next two games 30-19 and 30-24 to have post a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Bears. The usual suspects were all there again as McDonald finished with 13 kills, Yuskewich 50 assists, three aces and 12 digs and Schmid with 14 digs.

The last match was much tighter as Wittenberg completed the landmark weekend sweep with a 3-2 defeat of third-ranked Juniata, a national semifinalist a year ago and one of the traditional powers on the national scene. The home team took the lead each time but Juniata kept pulling back to level until Wittenberg took the final game and complete the tournament. Yuskewich had her second-highest assist total of the season with 72 and McDonald pounded 29 kills.

To recognize her phenomenal performance during the weekend, Yuskewich was named National Player of the Week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.