Tiger Volleyball Stops By Good Shepherd For The Morning

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Wittenberg volleyball team is in St. Louis this weekend primarily in search of a national championship, but the Tigers took some time to team up with the NCAA and the St. Louis Sports Commission to lend a helping hand to Good Shepherd Children and Family Services.

Good Shepherd provides foster services, adoption services, residential care and mentoring for children without permanent homes. The Tigers spent their time in the Maternity Unit, which provides expectant and new mothers with a range of free services, including emotional, legal and health counseling, housing and medical care.

The team brought along their oldest clothes for the morning, which was scheduled to include painting two rooms. Not satisfied with the modest challenge, the team decided they could do more to help. Several players, led by Director of Athletics Garnett Purnell and wife Sally, headed outside to help rake leaves and clean out flower beds.

While they worked, the Tigers learned about the mission of Good Shepherd from Development Director Mike Whelan, and learned why the help is so appreciated.

"The work these NCAA college athletes from Wittenberg University are performing for Good Shepherd makes the home environment for our expectant and recent mothers in residence and their babies a cheerier and more comfortable place," Whelan said.

"It's not just the physical work they are doing, though. The students, and what they are accomplishing in their lives as individuals and as a team, serve as an inspiration to the young women here, and even the young men."

Following the two hour service project, the Tigers left Wittenberg t-shirts for the Maternity Unit's residents and departed Good Shepherd for their hotel to gear up for practice at the Washington University Field House. That is where they will resume the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament against 17th-ranked California Lutheran tomorrow at 8 p.m. Central.

Washington University, the host of the final stages of the tournament, will provide live video and statistics of the match (Tournament Website). Wittenberg Director of News Services and Sports Information Ryan Maurer will be providing live audio commentary from the Field House (Listen Live), and fans in Springfield are welcome to join the Wittenberg community in Founders campus pub in the Benham-Pence Student Center for a live viewing party at 9 p.m. Eastern.

For instant updates, follow Wittenberg Athletics on Twitter at @WittAthletics (Twitter account).

Written By: John Strawn '07
Photos By: Erin Pence '04