2008 Border Battle Emphasizes Global Awareness

The Tigers hope the good vibrations continue after losing just one match in the first three years of the Border Battle.

Springfield, Ohio — The Wittenberg University volleyball team, ranked fifth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III poll, hosts its fourth annual Border Battle Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12-13. The theme of the event is "Raising Global Awareness," with efforts planned throughout the weekend that will emphasize the small steps each individual can take to improve the environment.

The Border Battle, which annually features four of the top NCAA Division III teams from Ohio against four of the top teams from Michigan in a unique round robin format, has been a measuring stick for top NCAA Great Lakes Region teams in recent years. A year after event organizers tackled breast cancer with a "Volley For The Cure" effort, the Border Battle again is being used as a stage to promote something more than athletic excellence.

"The Border Battle is just plain fun. Players on every team like to join forces with their rivals," said Wittenberg Head Coach Paco Labrador. "It's neat to see the in-state team bonding, especially when bragging rights are on the line. At the same time, the coaches are all wonderful people who run classy programs.

"Each team has been great about taking on the spirit of each year's theme. I hope each program finds a way to take our "green" theme back to their respective athletic departments. The fans will get to watch some high level volleyball and hopefully come away with an increased awareness of environmental issues."

All athletes participating in the Border Battle have been asked to bring their own water bottles and to refill them whenever they need a drink, rather than have paper cups at the end of benches. Each of the student-athletes will also bring their own large zip lock bag to use (and re-use) for icing after matches, and each teams will be using (and re-using) their own ACE bandages rather than the plastic/cellophane wrap normally used by trainers to hold icepacks in place.

In addition, all scoresheets to be used throughout the weekend will be printed on the back of the scoresheets used in last year's Border Battle, recycling bins will be prominently placed around the lobby and gym and tickets will be printed on recycled paper. Finally, a bank of lights over the south stands of Pam Evans Smith Arena will be kept off to conserve energy.

The Border Battle is the only regular season tournament Wittenberg will host during the 2008 season. The Tigers, which has reached three straight NCAA Division III Final Fours, will be joined on the Ohio side of the competition by Ohio Northern University, the College of Mount St. Joseph and Hiram College. Those four squads will square off against the Michigan side, comprised of Adrian College, Hope College and Calvin College of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and Walsh University, a powerhouse NAIA program from North Canton, Ohio. Four rounds of matches will start at 1 p.m. on Friday, and another four rounds will commence at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The host Tigers are off to a 4-0 start to the 2008 season, their sixth under Labrador, who now has a career record of 174-24. Wittenberg is coming off a 38-1 season in 2007, one that included North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season and tournament championships. The Tigers have picked up right where they left off a year ago, thanks in part to setter Erin Slattery, class of 2010 from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, the team leader in assists, and middle hitter Kate Snead, class of 2010 from Westerville, Ohio, the team leader in kills. They have led a balanced offensive and defensive performance through the first two weeks of the campaign, including a three-match sweep at Mount St. Joseph on Saturday, Sept. 6.

A year after Ohio teams won 14 of 16 matches in the inaugural Border Battle, the teams from Michigan pulled even in 2006 at 8-8. Wittenberg, Ohio Northern and Calvin each compiled 3-1 records in the event to lead the individual team standings. In 2007, Ohio teams were again on top, winning 12 of the 16 matches.

This year, the Ohio side includes perennial power Ohio Northern, ranked 10th in the latest national poll and regular season champion of the rugged Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) each of the last eight years. The Polar Bears, regional runner-up to Wittenberg a year ago, stand 6-3 in the early going of the 2008 season. Mount St. Joseph is another top team in the region most years, and the Lions are the top team in the "Others Receiving Votes" category of the AVCA poll. The Lions are off to a 7-2 start. Rounding out the field, Hiram is a deceiving 4-4 in the early going, with three losses to teams receiving votes in the national poll. The Terriers are the only NCAC team to beat Wittenberg since 1997 - once in the 2005 regular season and again in the 2006 conference tournament.

Adrian, Calvin and Hope are three of the top teams in the MIAA annually. Adrian is 4-2 so far in 2008, including a 2-0 mark in the conference. Hope, ranked 17th in the nation, is off to records of 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA, a year after finishing 24-9 overall and in second place in the league. The NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region runner-up to Wittenberg in 2005 and 2006, 18th-ranked Calvin sports records of 5-1 and 2-0 in the MIAA so far in 2008. The Knights have reached the postseason tournament each of the last three years.

The newcomer to the Border Battle party is Walsh, which is located in Ohio but will play for the Michigan side. The Cavaliers, who have reached the NAIA National Tournament three times and won four conference championships since 2000, are off to a 5-4 start in 2008.

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