In their 29th playoff appearance, No. 11 Tiger Volleyball moves on to the second round of the NCAA III Volleyball Regional with a 3-1 victory over Wittenberg University. With the win, the Tigers improved their NCAA playoff record to 43-27.
The Rundown
The Tigers got their playoff run started just like most games this season, with a
Maddie Fate (Croton on Hudson, New York / Croton Harmon) slam. Early in the first set, the Tigers jumped out to a 7-4 lead. The Tigers would go on a much-needed four-point run, capped off by a
Brette Thornton (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) service ace to extend the Tiger lead to 13-5. After a
Connelley McWilliams (Austin, Texas / St. Michaels) kill, the Tigers had a commanding 17-9 lead. However, this is the playoffs, and Wittenberg wasn't going down without a fight. The other Tigers would go on a 10-1 run to go ahead, 19-18. However, the Tigers didn't drop a bead of sweat. The Tigers would take a 6-1 swing into set point, in favor of the good guys. With a Wittenberg serve, fifth-year
Marisa Amarino (Calabasas, California / Notre Dame Prep) sent a quick set to Fate. Fate was definitely a Home Depot fan, as she hit a tool off of a Wittenberg block to give the Tigers the set, 23-25.
In the second set, Wittenberg quickly got out to a 5-1 lead. Wittenberg would extend their lead to seven points and the Tigers were ready to dig in and show their heart. Fate would get a four-point rally started and the Tigers cut the lead down to three. However, that is as close as the Tigers would get in the set. Wittenberg would continue their run and take the set 19-25.
The two playoff teams would be interlocked in the third set, neither wanting to give the edge. The game would be back and forth until a 6-2 run by Wittenberg gave them a 16-11 lead.. After a well-placed timeout by Head Coach
Julie Jenkins, the Tigers went on a four-point run that featured two thundering blocks by
Brette Thornton and
Kathryn Detweiler (Goshen, Indiana / Goshen). Wittenberg would score, but the Tigers would go back on the attack with back-to-back points to make it 18 all. Wittenberg would take a two-point lead out of a timeout, but the Tiger hitters would take over. Fate and
Courtney Pope (New Braunfels, Texas / New Braunfels) would both put in two kills each, and then an attack error by Wittenberg brought the Tigers to set point. For set point, the Tigers would give the ball to none other than 1st-Team All-Region middle blocker
Maddie Fate. Fate would run a slide to perfection and send a shot to the deep corner past all Wittenberg defenders and give the Tigers the set 25-21.
The fourth set saw Wittenberg get out to a hefty 9-4 lead. Throughout this entire game the Tigers had shown that even though they were down, they were never out. An exploding 9-1 run by the Tigers gave them an important 16-13 lead. Wittenberg would tie the game up at 18 all, and then again at 21 all, but the Tigers were ready to take their team to the second round. A fabulous defensive effort by the Tigers led to a
Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands) sharp cross-shot that would slam into the 10-foot line and give the Tigers set and match point. Without any doubt in their minds, the Tigers knew who to get the ball to. Amarino would quickly set Fate, who would absolutely destroy the ball into the middle of the Wittenberg defense for the Tiger win, 25-23. Fate would let out a victorious yell and the Tigers would storm the court as they earned the win to move on to the second round.
Fate would have an excellent game, collecting 12 kills on a .417 hitting percentage. First-year
Courtney Pope would set a new career-high in kills with 13. Fifth-year
Nadia Kern (El Paso, Texas / Montwood) would lead the Tigers defensively with 25 digs.
Up Next - Round Two
The Tigers will play against the winner of No. 10 Berry versus Washington & Lee tomorrow at 6:00 PM.
