Tigers Wrap Up Inaugural Season With Loss At No. 3 Carthage

KENOSHA, Wis. - The Wittenberg Tigers put the finishing touches on a tremendously successful inaugural campaign as an intercollegiate athletics program with a 3-0 loss at third-ranked Carthage.

The sweep may have ended Wittenberg's season short of a berth in the four-team Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League (MCVL) Tournament, but the Tigers have plenty to build upon at the conclusion of the 2016 campaign. Wittenberg finished 14-11 overall and 4-9 in the MCVL after a schedule that included no less than seven nationally ranked opponents.

Carthage improved to 25-1 overall and 13-0 in the MCVL to take first place in the regular season standings and earn the No. 1 seed in the league tournament. The Redmen were shut out of the NCAA Division III Tournament a year ago, but they are likely to be a high seed in 2016 after finishing the regular season ranked No. 3 nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Carthage won the first two sets against Wittenberg by scores of 25-18 and 25-18 before kicking it into high gear for a 25-9 decision in the third frame. The Tigers were limited to a negative attack percentage in two of the three sets and finishing the match with 21 kills and 23 errors in 79 attack attempts.

Individually, freshman Justin Luby (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) was tops on offense with 10 kills and freshman Ross Russell (Akron, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) dished out 19 assists to go along with two service aces. Russell, freshman Isaiah Brock (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) and freshman Ashton Sellers (Westerville, Ohio/South) each finished with two blocks, and Sellers topped the squad with five digs.

Written By: Ryan Maurer