Tigers Rally Past DePauw In Battle For NCAC Lead

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - It has been 15 years since a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) team other than Hiram has beaten the Wittenberg volleyball team. The DePauw Tigers offered a tremendous challenge, but the Wittenberg Tigers responded well in a 3-1 victory.

DePauw dropped to 17-3 overall and 4-1 in the NCAC, while Wittenberg improved to 15-4 overall and 5-0 in the conference. Wittenberg and Hiram are the lone unbeatens remaining in the NCAC just past the halfway point of the 2012 regular season title chase.

DePauw won the opening set 25-19 and the visiting Tigers were poised to take a commanding 2-0 lead, standing at 23-19 in the second frame. However, Wittenberg responded behind the serving of senior setter Hallie Donathan (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) and reeled off six straight points, including three on kills by junior Andrea Behling (Columbus, Ind./North), to close the second set and completely swing the momentum of the match.

It wasn't smooth sailing from that point for Wittenberg, which remains ranked third in the American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll. DePauw led for much of the third set before the host Tigers again came alive in the late stages. With the score tied 18-18, Wittenberg won seven of the last nine points, including four on kills by senior Jessica Batanian (Sylvania, Ohio/Notre Dame), to secure a 25-20 victory.

The host Tigers took control of the fourth set much earlier, pulling out to a 16-12 lead and holding the visiting squad at a comfortable distance the rest of the way.

Batanian turned in one of her finest collegiate performances, finishing with 16 kills and 17 digs, while Behling was solid as well with 10 kills (and a .364 attack percentage) to go along with a match-best five blocks. Also reaching double figures offensively was freshman Kara Seidenstricker (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) with 11 kills and 12 digs.

Also of note was the play of senior libero Christina Gilene (Milford, Ohio/McNicholas) with 24 digs.