Women’s Volleyball Splits First Two Matches of the Season

LEXINGTON, KY - Wittenberg Women's Volleyball team went 1-1 on the day to open the 2025 season on the road. After falling 3-1 to Berry College early in the day, the Tigers earned their first victory of the new season with a 3-1 defeat of Olivet. Both matches were part of the Transy Invite at the Clive M. Beck Center on the campus of Transylvania University on Friday, Aug. 29.

Berry, picked to finish second in its conference this season, brought in an astounding eight conference championships in the last 12 years of competition. Last year, the Vikings finished 17-14 overall with one of those wins being a 3-1 early-season victory over Wittenberg.

Berry defeated Wittenberg by the same margin this year but in scores of 25-16, 21-25, 25-23, and 25-14.

On paper, the stats were close in this one, with Berry tallying 39 kills to 40 for the Tigers. The Vikings had a total of 144 attacks with 19 errors, and a .139 hitting percentage. They also registered 37 assists, 14 service aces, 71 digs, nine blocks, and a total of 62 points.

Wittenberg tallied a total of 148 attacks on 29 hitting errors, 35 assists, nine service aces, 77 digs, and six blocks.

Sam Fincham (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) led the Tigers in the kill department with 12, and Kaili Worcester (Powell, OH / Olentangy Liberty) added nine. Mary Sulfridge (South Charleston, OH / Southeastern) had four service aces and 26 assists while Clare O'Malley (Avon, OH / St. Joseph's Academy) led the team in blocks with three and Fincham added two. Piper Ricketts (Morrow, OH / Little Miami) led the team in digs with 21, Ally White (Harrison, OH / Harrison) added 17, and Sulfridge tallied 14.

Wittenberg came up big in the second match, defeating Olivet 3-1 in scores of 25-14, 25-16, 22-25, and 25-7.

Team totals for the Tigers included 44 kills on 119 total attacks for a .227 hitting percentage. They also registered 42 assists, 17 service aces, 43 digs, 10 blocks, and 71 points. Worcester led the team in kills with 11, while O'Malley and Alana Bartulovic (Cleveland, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) each added seven. Sulfridge again led in assists with 27, and Worcester also tallied a team-high 12 digs.

Olivet, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, was 13-13 last season and 1-7 in their conference. The Comets landed 30 kills on 106 total attacks, 28 assists, six service aces, 48 digs, six blocks, and 42 points. 

The Tigers, now 1-1 this season, finished 2024 with a 17-10 record overall and placed second in the NCAC with a 5-2 mark. Wittenberg reached the conference semifinals with a win over Hiram before falling to Denison to reach the championship game.

Led by eighth-year head coach Evelyn Miller, the Tigers will take on host team Transylvania University on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 12:30 p.m., then continue on the road on Friday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. vs. Calvin in the NCAC/MIAA Challenge at Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware, Ohio and against Hope on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m., followed by Albion at 3 p.m.

Written By: Cindy Holbrook