Roundup: Tigers Take Win After Win
The Wittenberg volleyball team continues to roll over opponents like a freight train through the heartland. With four more quality wins last weekend at the Elmhurst College Volleyball Invitational, including two over nationally ranked teams, the Tigers improved to 24-1 overall and ascended to the top spot of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll for the first time in school history.
The Wittenberg volleyball team continues to roll over opponents like a freight train through the heartland. With four more quality wins last weekend at the Elmhurst College Volleyball Invitational, including two over nationally ranked teams, the Tigers improved to 24-1 overall and ascended to the top spot of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll for the first time in school history.
The Tigers took their lofty ranking and phenomenal record to Emory University for a tournament filled with top-flight teams this weekend. Then Wittenberg wraps up the regular season with the third home tournament of the season next weekend. The Tigers have already clinched a 10th straight North Coast Athletic Conference regular season title and No. 1 seed and home court advantage for the upcoming NCAC Tournament on Nov. 5-6.
While the Tigers are pushing toward heights previously unseen as a team, several individuals are moving into uncharted territory as well. Senior setter Sarah Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson) has already captured the school and conference records for assists in a season and a career, and she set the NCAA Division III mark for assists in a season two years ago. Now she is moving up the all-time ranks for career assists - with 5,718 going into play this weekend she stands eighth in NCAA Division III history. On her current pace, she will probably move into the top three all-time, with the record standing at 7,008 by Ushi Patel of Rochester Institute of Technology.
Yuskewich, who was named to the Elmhurst All-Tournament team along with senior outside hitter Monica McDonald (Newark, Ohio/Catholic), leads the NCAC and ranks among the top five nationally with 14.51 assists per game this season.
Senior libero Emilie Schmid (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) has also already broken the school and conference records for digs, and she is now moving up the Division III charts as well. Schmid stands 10th all-time in career digs with 2,302 after collecting 668 already this season. She is on pace to break the school and conference records for digs in a season, and her current pace will probably push her into the top five all-time in NCAA Division III history.