#1 Wittenberg Takes Down DePauw in Five

Wittenberg came back from down 2-1 to win the match 3-2 to the tune of 23-25, 25-14, 18-25, 29-27 and 15-13.

#1 Wittenberg Takes Down DePauw in Five
October 17, 2017
Box Score

GREENCASTLE, Indiana-- #1 Wittenberg is used to getting everyone's best game, as the Tigers have been ranked #1 in the country for the last month, but Wittenberg was tested in a big way by the DePauw Tigers on Tuesday night. Wittenberg came back from down 2-1 to win the match 3-2 to the tune of 23-25, 25-14, 18-25, 29-27 and 15-13. The Tigers had five players record double-digit kills, as Wittenberg's record improves to 17-0 (6-0) in 2017.

HOW IT HAPPENED: In the must win fourth set for Wittenberg, the two teams were tied at 22-22, 24-24, 25-25, 26-26, and 27-27 before Karen Wildemann and Haley Horner combined for the Tigers last two points to take the set 29-27. DePauw would jump out to a 2-0 lead in set number five before Maddie Fischer and Taylor Brown rattled off three quick points to take a 3-2 lead. DePauw would stay tight with the Tigers, as the decisive fifth and final set saw the score knotted at 8-8. Down the stretch, Wittenberg's attack would be too much to handle, as the Tigers jumped out to a 14-11 lead. Aubrey Cox would notch the final kill of the match for Wittenberg, as the Tigers escaped Greencastle with a 15-13 win.

WHO STOOD OUT: Horner (14), Brown (12), Kennedey Schmidt (12), Cox (12) and Maddie Fischer (11), all recorded double-digit kills for the Tigers, but oddly enough DePauw recorded more kills (67) than Wittenberg (65). In one of the most entertaining matches of the year, Taylor Yontz was all over the court for Wittenberg, helping stifle DePauw's impressive attack with a career-high 32 digs. Karen Wildemann, coming off her second triple-double of 2017, picked up a double-double as the junior recorded 13 digs, and a career-high 51 assists

WHAT IT MEANS: #1 Wittenberg now stands all alone in first place in the NCAC, as both teams entered Tuesday night's tilt with unblemished records in NCAC play. Wittenberg increases their lead in the all-time series against their Tiger-counterparts to 15-2. DePauw and Wittenberg have met in the last three NCAC tournament championship matches, with Wittenberg winning all three meetings. The Tigers return to Springfield for senior day on October 21, before rounding out NCAC play with a match at Kenyon College on October 25. The Tigers close out the regular season at Benedictine University in Chicago on October 27 and 28. Wittenberg will take on non-conference foes; Elmhurst, Carthage and Wisconsin-Eau Claire.