Wittenberg Ends Historic Winning Streak, Taking Down Juniata in Five Sets 

SPRINGFIELD, OH - On Friday night at Pam Evans Smith Arena, the Wittenberg Tigers pulled off one of the biggest wins in recent history. Hosting the nation's top-ranked team and three-time defending national champion Juniata Eagles, Wittenberg rose to the occasion in front of a packed and electric crowd, winning a five-set thriller by scores of 23–25, 25–14, 25–20, 20–25, 15–13.

After a first set full of long rallies, scrappy defense, and a tough two-point loss, the Tigers bounced back in a big way in set two with a dominant 25-14 win, hitting .294 and notching 13 kills in the set.

The third set saw more success for the Tigers. Hitting .226 with nine kills throughout the set, Wittenberg continued their stellar defense and fed off an electric crowd, fueling them to a 25-20 victory. However, the battle would continue into the fourth, as despite a late Wittenberg rally, Juniata took the fourth set 25-20, forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.

In the final set, Wittenberg delivered in the biggest moments. Trading points all the way to the finish, the Tigers came up with clutch swings and key defensive stops to seal a 15–13 victory and end Juniata's remarkable run.

The box score reflected just how hard-fought the match was. Wittenberg outscored Juniata 108–87 overall, recording 50 kills on a .208 hitting percentage, eight aces, 73 digs, and 10 blocks. Juniata countered with 54 kills (.157), 13 aces, 65 digs, and five blocks.

Several Tigers stepped up in the upset. Alana Bartulovic (Cleveland, OH / Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) led the way with 15 kills and 16.5 points. Claire O'Malley (Avon, OH / St. Joseph's Academy) added 10 kills on an impressive .364 hitting percentage while chipping in three blocks. Defensively, Ally White (Harrison, OH / Harrison) anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs.

Coming into the match, Juniata had won 103 straight games and three consecutive national championships, a streak that defined their dominance over Division III women's volleyball. But on this night, Wittenberg was ready for the moment, handing the Eagles their first loss in over three years and making history inside Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The Tigers return to action Saturday afternoon when they host Baldwin Wallace at 1:30 p.m. in the Pam.

Written By: Eli Halverson '26