Season Outlook

Tiffany Keller (left, No. 10) celebrates another point won. She and her teammates hope to do a lot of celebrating in 2002.

The Wittenberg University Tigers used the 2001 season to prove that they could not only compete with, but beat the best teams in the country. Playing one of the most difficult schedules in the country, the Tigers defeated several top-ranked teams, including perennial national powers Juniata, Ohio Northern and Wartburg. But the Tigers stumbled in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament against Ohio Northern, and now, as the 2002 season approaches, the Tigers know it is their time to parlay more than a decade of astounding regular season success into even bigger things.

Coming off their fifth straight North Coast Athletic Conference championship, the Tigers will bring the national stage to Springfield not once, not twice, but three times this year. The team hosts the Wittenberg Invitational, the Wittenberg National Invitational and the Tiger National Quad. These three events will showcase such perennial powers such as Mount St. Joseph, Nazareth, Juniata and the University of Washington, to name a few. In addition, the Tigers plan trips to tournaments at Wisconsin-Whitewater, West Florida, Washington University and Mount St. Joseph this season, as well.

The Tigers, who didn't have a single senior on their roster last year, showcase plenty of talent themselves. Led by seniors Tiffany Keller (Massillon,Ohio/Tuslaw),Brittany Baume (Springfield, Ohio/Southeastern) and Teresa Murphy (Blacklick, Ohio/Newark Catholic), and sophomores Monica McDonald (Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic) and Sarah Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson), the Tigers hope this rigorous regular season schedule will provide the momentum needed to make a strong run into the NCAA Division III Tournament come November.

Keller, the 2001 NCAC Player of the Year, NCAC Tournament MVP and first-team All-Great Lakes Region, led the team a year ago with 111 blocks, was second on the team with 56 aces and ranked third on the team with 264 kills. Murphy, a three-time first-team All-NCAC selection, led the team with 434 digs and was second on the team with 398 kills. Baume, a two-time All-NCAC selection and the NCAC Newcomer of the Year and Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year in 1999, looks to regain her sophomore form after an injury plagued season in 2001.

Both McDonald and Yuskewich are coming off strong freshman seasons. McDonald was named both NCAC Newcomer of the Year and Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year, leading the team and conference in kills with 539. Yuskewich earned honorable mention All-NCAC honors, leading the team with 1071 assists.

Four other returning letterwinners will help carry the load for the Tigers. JuniorsJennifer Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame), Michelle Emming (West Chester, Ohio/Mt Nortre Dame) and Lindsay Nelson (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw)and sophomore Emilie Schmid (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) all made significant contributions for the Tigers in the 2001 season. All are outside hitters.