Tigers Split the Day, Fall to #3 Calvin in Nightcap after Dropping #17 Elmhurst

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—Not many programs can boast that they faced off against the number one, two and three programs in the county in a week's time, but the Wittenberg Tigers women's volleyball team did so this past week. After dropping #2 Juniata a week ago and #1 California Lutheran on Friday night, the Tigers made quick work of #17 Elmhurst before squaring off against #3 Calvin in a nightcap. Wittenberg managed to control the early goings of the Calvin match, but the visiting squad took the Tigers in four sets after Wittenberg disposed of Elmhurst earlier that day 3-1.  Wittenberg's non-conference schedule was arguably the toughest in the land, as the Tigers squared off against nearly all ranked opponents early on. After an impressive weekend at the Wittenberg Fall Classic, the team from Springfield now shifts focus to NCAC conference play with multiple storybook wins under their belts.

 #17 ELMHURST BREAKDOWN

• Wittenberg fell behind early, but the Tigers came clawing back late in the first set to tie things up at 21-21 against Elmhurst as Maddie Fischer slammed home a kill, forcing Elmhurst into a timeout.
• Out of the timeout, the Tigers went back and forth until they pulled away at 24-22 behind a beautiful kill from Karen Wildemann, caught Elmhurst off-guard.
• The Tigers completed the first set comeback, downing the Blue Jays 25-22 as Fischer recorded seven kills in the opening set.
• In set two, both teams came out of their huddle on the attack, as things were knotted up at 7-7 before the Tigers called a timeout to regroup.
• Out of the timeout, Wittenberg saw a two-point swing go in their favor as senior Camila Quiñones took a big swing that put the Tigers up 10-8.
• Wittenberg commanded the game at 19-15, as senior Emily Kahlig produced a huge block to put the Tigers up by four.
• Wittenberg would go on to win set two 25-21, and take their momentum in to set three, jumping out to a quick 3-1 lead.
• The Tigers lead 11-6 in the third set when Fischer put a beautiful set from Megan Flaherty over two blockers for her 11^th kill of the match.
• Wittenberg called multiple timeouts in the remaining points of the third set, but Elmhurst found soft spots in the Tiger defense to win set three 25-20.
• Set four was all Wittenberg, as Fischer could not be stopped, earning her 20^th and 21^st kill of the match down the stretch as the Tigers one the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.  

#3 CALVIN BREAKDOWN

• Wittenberg did not miss a beat after the short break in between matches, as the Tigers carried a three point lead all the way to 22-19.
• Taylor Brown, Aubrey Cox, Quiñones and Fischer all produced two kills apiece in set one for the Tigers, as Wittenberg held on in the opening set 25-21 as Kendall Farmer delivered the final point of the set.
• In set number two, the Tiger's offensive unit did not disappoint early on as an early run for the home team briefly stopped at 11-7 when Calvin was forced to call a timeout.
• The tables turned for the Tigers late in the set, as Calvin was able to tie the Tigers at 21-all, before taking the lead at 23-21.
• An attack error on Calvin knotted the set up at 23-23 before a successful kill by the visiting team put the Tigers down 24-23 in the second set.
• Cox was setup perfectly by Wildemann in the middle of the floor to tie the second set up at 24, before a Farmer serve was not able to be returned by Calvin, giving the Tigers the lead at 25-24.
• Calvin proved to be too much in the end for Wittenberg in set two, as Wittenberg fell 29-27.
• Despite going back and forth for most of the third set, Wittenberg could not pull through in the end, falling to Calvin 25-21 in set three.
• Wittenberg battled back and fourth in set four, but Calvin stood tall and forced Wittenberg into many tough spots as the Tigers dropped the match 3-1.

KEY STATS

• Fischer produced 31 kills on the day for the Tigers, including 21 in the Elmhurst match alone.
• The Tigers posted kill percentages of .188 and .186 as a team in each match respectively.
• As a team, the Tigers produced 13 service aces, as Fischer led that category as well, with three.

FROM THE COACH

• "Calvin plays with a great mix of height and net presence and also solid team defense. Overall I am pleased with the weekend considering the caliber of programs who visited Pam Evans Smith Arena. Five of the seven teams who played in this year's Fall classic have at least one national championship trophy in their gym. Now we have to translate our last three weeks of matches into solid NCAC play," said Coach Labrador.

UP NEXT

• The Tigers return to action on September 24 against NCAC foe Hiram. The match tips off at 1:00PM in Springfield.