Tigers Welcome Outstanding Field For Annual Wittenberg Fall Classic
Four of the top 10 teams in the current national rankings headline a stellar eight-team field in the second regular season tournament that Wittenberg has hosted in 2014.
Springfield, Ohio – The Wittenberg volleyball team continues its challenging early season non-conference schedule by the Wittenberg Fall Classic, which includes a tremendous eight-team field, including four teams ranked in the top 10 nationally.
The Tigers will welcome California Lutheran University, Washington University, Calvin College, Ohio Northern University, Otterbein University, Heidelberg University and Juniata College for the 2014 Wittenberg Fall Classic on Friday, Sept. 12, and Saturday, Sept. 13, in Pam Evans Smith Arena. Six matches will be played on Friday, starting at 1:30 p.m., and eight more are scheduled for Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.
Much like the season-opening Courtyard by Marriott Wittenberg National Invitational, the field for the Wittenberg Fall Classic is noteworthy because of the high expectations for each participating school. Wittenberg is the preseason favorite in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and currently stands ninth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll with a 4-2 record. Both Wittenberg losses so far this year have come against teams ranked in the top 10.
Cal Lutheran is off to a fast start to the 2014 season, ranked No. 5 in the nation with a 7-1 record. Washington University stands No. 10 in the country with an 8-1 record, including a hard-fought 3-2 victory on the Bears’ home floor on Saturday, Sept. 6. Perennial powerhouse Juniata enters the weekend No. 8 in the nation with a 7-0 record. And Calvin is the No. 1 ranked team in the nation with an 8-0 record after capturing its second national championship in the last three years in 2013.
Rounding out the field, Ohio Northern is annually one of the top teams in the Great Lakes Region. The Polar Bears are 7-2 in the early going of the 2014 season and receiving votes in the AVCA national poll. Two other Ohio Athletic Conference teams join the Polar Bears in the field, as Heidelberg checks in with a 5-3 record and Otterbein, coached by former Wittenberg All-American Monica McDonald, class of 2004, enters with a 4-4 mark.
Written By: Ryan Maurer