Tigers Wrap Up Great Lakes Regional Challenge With Sweep Of Bluffton

Kiah Murray

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers put the finishing touches on a busy weekend with a 3-0 sweep of Bluffton in the final match of the Great Lakes Regional Challenge.

The Tigers, ranked third nationally, finished 2-1 in the competition and improved to 8-1 overall on the 2011 season. Top-ranked defending national champion Calvin was the lone team to escape the tournament, which featured four nationally ranked teams, without a loss. The Knights rallied to beat Wittenberg 3-2 on Friday and ended the weekend a perfect 4-0.

11th-ranked Heidelberg finished 3-1, with its lone defeat coming against Calvin, and 13th-ranked Hope wound up 2-2, with losses to Wittenberg and Heidelberg. Alma was also 3-1, although the Scots faced just one ranked opponent, losing to Heidelberg. Mount St. Joseph, Ohio Northern and Bluffton all finished the weekend 0-3.

Great Lakes Regional Challenge Home Page.

Against Bluffton, the Tigers were without the services of two regulars due to minor injuries. Still, Head Coach Paco Labrador was able to empty his bench as the Tigers rolled past the Beavers (6-6) by set scores of 25-13, 25-9, 25-16.

Senior Christine Simpson (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto) led the Tigers offensively with nine kills, while freshman Meghan Vodopich (Canton, Ohio/Perry) was solid with 29 assists. The defense was sparked by junior Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) with 16 digs and freshman Kiah Murray (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown), who made the most of her first collegiate start with 14 digs and three service aces.