Block Party At The Pam Gives No. 8 Tigers Win Over Transylvania

Springfield, OH – The newly anointed AVCA No. 8 Wittenberg Women's Volleyball team welcomed Transylvania University to Pam Evans Smith Arena, sending the Pioneers home in defeat, 3-1 (25-20,23-25, 25-20, 25-21).  Making an exciting comeback win in the first set. Wittenberg rode the wave of five service aces from Mack Ricketts, as they overtook the 20-17 Transylvania advantage on an eight-point run. Tyler Linkhart (17) and Katie Hiestand (16) led the Tiger attack, putting down double-digit kills. Wittenberg put together a .233 hitting-percentage as a unit, with 54 kills on 159 total attacks and 17 errors.

Walling-up down the stretch, the Tiger defense posted 12 blocks on the night. Six different Tiger's joined the block party including Kendall Robertson, Ricketts, Linkhart, Hiestand, Sarah Hettich and Kaili Worester. Wittenberg posted four blocks in the third set and five in the fourth.

Wittenberg consistently hit .200 or better throughout the match with hitting-percentages climbing all the way to .263 by the fifth set.

Currently riding a five-match winning streak, Wittenberg improves to 10-2 on the season. The Tigers remain unbeaten on their home court at Pam Evans Smith Arena. With this win, Wittenberg improves to 4-0 in four set matches. The last time Wittenberg dropped a set was the final match of the final day of the MIAA/NCAC Challenge, 11 days ago on September, 10, falling 3-0 to Albion. Wittenberg picked up a pair of 3-1 wins that weekend over at the time No. 3 Calvin and No. 6 Hope.

Before the match got underway, the Wittenberg Tiger volleyball family acknowledged Graduate Senior Katie Hiestand for eclipsing the 1,000 career-kills and 1,000 career-digs mark from Saturday's win over Geneva College. Currently Hiestand has 1, 016 career-kills and 1,024 digs to her credit in a Tiger uniform.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• As a team, Wittenberg ranks 4th in hitting-percentage amongst all NCAA Division III programs. Hitting .280 through 36 sets with 485 kills on 1,272 total attacks and just 144 errors.
• With 485 kills through 36 sets, Wittenberg ranks 9^th in DIII in kills per set.
• Ricketts continues to rank amongst top 10 in all of DIII at 10.39 assists/set at No. 6.
• Linkhart ranks amongst the top 20 nationally, coming in at No. 18 in kills/set with 4.14.
• For top kills, Linkhart comes in at No. 25 in DIII with 149 through 11 matches played.
• Wittenberg holds the top spot amongst the NCAC opponents in the top three offensive statistical categories including, hitting-percentage (.280), kills/set (12.48), and assists/set (13.64).
• Kendall Robertson and Linkhart continue to lead the NCAC in hitting percentage, with four Tigers rounding out the top 15 including Laney Yoder at 7^th and Hiestand at 11^th.

Wittenberg will return to action on Friday, September 23, hosting the University of Mount Union Raiders at 6:00 pm from Pam Evans Smith Arena.