Women’s Volleyball Snaps Losing Streak With 3-2 Win Over Earlham

Wittenberg Women's Volleyball 2024 Action Photo
Sam Fincham (left) was among the Tigers' offensive leaders and Ava Golem (right) was among the team's defensive leaders in a 3-2 win over Earlham. | Photo by John Coffman
October 1, 2024
Box Score

RICHMOND, IND. – After losing three matches in a row, Wittenberg's Women's Volleyball team pulled out a big win over Earlham in a non-conference road contest on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Druley Performance Gym.

The Tigers won in five games by scores of 26-28, 25-12, 28-26, 14-25, and 15-10. The win puts Wittenberg at 6-6 overall, while Earlham falls to 5-10. Wittenberg and Earlham have faced off seven times since 2009 and the Tigers have won all seven. 

There were 13 ties in the first set before the Quakers topped the Tigers by two. Wittenberg recovered quickly in the second set, jumping out to a 7-0 lead. Earlham went on a 6-4 run to get back in the game at 11-6, but that was the closest they would come. In the third set, Wittenberg jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but behind some good blocking and a few key plays, Earlham came back and tied the Tigers at 8-all. Ten ties later, Wittenberg finally pulled out the win. The two teams traded points in the fourth set until Earlham took a 10-9 lead that began a 15-5 run enabling it to capture the win. After a 9-9 tie in the final set, Witt went on a 6-1 run to record the victory.

Alana Bartulovic (Cleveland, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) led the Tigers with 17 kills and 17.5 points.Sam Fincham (Springfield, OH / Kenton Ridge) added 12 kills and 14 points while Clare O'Malley  (Avon, OH / St. Joseph's Academy) had 11 kills and 11.5 points. Piper Ricketts (Morrow, OH / Little Miami) had 10 kills and 11 digs on the night. Mary Sulfridge (South Charleston, OH / Southeastern) tallied 31 assists and 14 digs. Ava Golem (Kirtland, OH / Kirtland) led the team in digs with 36, while Ally White (Harrison, OH / Harrison) turned in 20. Bryn Wilhelmus (Louisville, KY / Mercy Academy) added 12 digs and Jenna van der Biezen (Ashburn, VA / Briar Woods) had 10 assists.

Team totals for the Tigers included 58 kills, 52 assists, 114 digs, nine service aces, and eight blocks. 

Skyler Murray led the Quakers in kills with 18 and Caylee Brandes added 12. Sydney Bleyle led the team in assists with 20 and Ava Walters had 16. Madison Bizjak had 29 digs, while Bleyle turned in 20.

The Tigers will again be on the road this Saturday, Oct. 5, taking on Kenyon at 3 p.m. in their second North Coast Athletic Conference match of the season.