SALEM, Va. - Talk about good timing. The Wittenberg Tigers put together perhaps their best all-around performance of the 2006 season Thursday, topping Trinity (Texas), 3-0, in the NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinals in Salem, Va.
The win moved Wittenberg into the national semifinals for the second straight year - and also the second time in school history. A year ago, the Tigers dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to then-defending national champion Juniata in the semifinals. The top-ranked Eagles, unbeaten against NCAA Division III opponents heading into tonight's final quarterfinal match against the Coast Guard Academy, are Wittenberg's opponent again in 2006.
The Tigers, ranked sixth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, quite literally escaped Game 1, and the momentum from a lightning-quick rally that turned a 23-16 deficit into a 30-28 win sparked a surprisingly comfortable win over the third-ranked team in the nation. Junior outside hitters Jan Kehres (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) and Emily Bell (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran)pounded six and five kills respectively to spark the comeback, but the key was defense as the Tigers overcame a slow start to record 19 digs on 49 Trinity swings. Sophomore libero Laura Fender (Toledo, Ohio/St. Ursula) led the way with seven digs.
"Any time a team can overcome a late-game deficit to pull out a win it carries excellent momentum for the rest of the match," said Head Coach Paco Labrador, who improved to 132-22 in his four-year career. "Tonight we played defense with a lot of heart. There were several opportunities for balls to drop, but our players repeatedly found way to keep the rally alive."
Games 2 and 3 were surprisingly lopsided as the Tiger defense frustrated Trinity and the Tiger offense took advantage of almost every opportunity, especially junior outside hitter Lindsey Penrod (Piqua, Ohio/Piqua) and sophomore outside hitterJackie Williams (Rocky River, Ohio/Magnificat).
Penrod entered the match midway through Game 1 and may well have been the difference for the Tigers. She pounded three kills in Game 2 and five more in Game 3. More importantly, Penrod was credited with a hitting error in 16 attack attempts, finished with a percentage of .500. Williams, the Tigers' leader in kills on the season, exceeded her season hitting percentage as well, finishing with 16 kills and one error on 26 swings, good for a .577 percentage.
"The depth of our bench has always been a strength at Wittenberg," Labrador said. "Lindsey Penrod entered the match and gave us a tremendous spark."
Defensively, the Tigers recorded 60 digs and seven team blocks on 128 Trinity attack attempts in the match. Fender led the way with 18, while Kehres added 15 to go along with her eight kills, two blocks and two service aces. Junior setter Sarah Matesich (Granville, Ohio/Newark Catholic) distributed 29 assists to lead Wittenberg, while freshman setter Erin Slattery (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston)chipped in with 19 assists, two kills and five digs.
Wittenberg will play at 7 p.m. Friday. The first semifinal match-up is set as second-ranked Washington University and fourth-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater will square off at 4:30 p.m. Wisconsin-Whitewater defeated Juniata in last year's championship match.