Tigers Keep the Season Strong

The Tigers have already enjoyed several highlights during the 2000 season. Starting the season 5-0 by storming through the Alma Invitational was quite a start. And defeating Juniata, the No. 3 ranked team in the country, at the Emory Invitational was a first for the Wittenberg program.

But finishing second in its own invitational competition over the weekend would have to rank at or near the top of the list. The Tigers beat two nationally ranked teams in thrilling 3-2 contests en route to the championship game against Mount St. Joseph, the eighth ranked team in the country. There the Tigers dropped a hard-fought 3-1 decision to take second place.

In the preliminary bracket competition, the Tigers warmed up Friday by defeating Mount Union, the No. 1 team in the region, by an 11-15, 15-8, 11-15, 15-9, 15-13 final. Then came a titanic battle against Ithaca, which came in No. 1 in the NY region, and an 11-15, 11-15, 15-5, 15-11, 15-9 decision that didn't end until well after 10 p.m.

On Saturday, Wittenberg kept the momentum with a 15-6, 15-12, 15-9 victory over Case Western Reserve University, ironically the last team to defeat the Tigers in NCAC action - in 1997. That set up a rematch with Mount St. Joseph on the same court they had met on 10 days previous. The Mounties got the best of the Tigers again, but the result was closer this time (7-15, 14-16, 15-13, 9-15).

Sophomore outside hitter Brittany Baume (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) was in top form over the weekend, earning her NCAC Player of the Week honors. Sophomore outside hitter Teresa Murphy (Blacklick, Ohio/Newark Catholic) and sophomore setter Shelli Habegger (Curtice, Ohio/Clay) also had fine weekends. Baume tops the league in kills and kills per game, while Habegger leads in assists and assists per game.