Tigers Cap Perfect NCAC Weekend With Sweeps Of Wooster And Allegheny

Jessica Batanian

GAMBIER, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers put the finishing touches on a perfect opening weekend of North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) action with two more clean sweeps, this time over Wooster and Allegheny.

Over the course of just 24 hours, the Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 record in the early going of the 2011 NCAC title chase. Overall, Wittenberg stands 12-0 heading into another busy week that includes a mid-week tilt at Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday and a home contest on Saturday against Oberlin. Later that day, the third-ranked Tigers will head to Otterbein for a 7 p.m. start.

The win over Wooster was achieved by set scores of 25-21, 25-16, 25-14, while the win over Allegheny included set scores of 25-16, 25-7, 25-8.

Against the Scots, the Tigers picked up a fine offensive performance from senior Kimmie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley), who finished with 12 kills and an attack percentage of .417. Junior Jessica Batanian (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame) added eight kills and an attack percentage of .412. Freshman Meghan Vodopich (Canton, Ohio/Perry) continued her stellar play, dishing out 13 assists, while also adding three aces and six digs.

Against the Gators, every healthy Wittenberg player saw action. Senior Catherine Farny (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) led with nine kills on 15 swings for a robust .600 attack percentage, Vodopich led with 21 assists and Dyer led the defense with nine digs. Batanian was efficient on offense as well, chipping in with three kills on four swings in just one set of action.