WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY
2010 NCAC VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
| Semifinals: Friday, Nov. 5th (All Matches @ Wittenberg) | Championship: Saturday, Nov. 6 |
| #1 Wittenberg 3, # 4 Denison 0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-11) {Box Score} | #1 Wittenberg 3, #2 Hiram 1 (25-27, 25-16, 25-16, 25-12) {Box Score} |
| #2 Hiram 3, #3 Wooster 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21) {Box Score} | Tournament Stats |
All-Tournament
Team
Megan Early, Denison
Paige Parker, Wooster
Shaina Bryan, Hiram
Alyssa Coundourides, Hiram
Christina Gilene, Wittenberg
Miranda Sagle, Wittenberg
Amy Cox, Wittenberg (MVP)
Tournament Recap:
Top-seeded
Wittenberg (30-2) claimed its 16th North Coast
Tournament title and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA
Division III Championship with a 3-1 decision over second-seeded
Hiram (24-10) in the championship match. The two teams have squared
off in nine straight championship matches and the Tigers hold an
8-1 advantage in those contests. Junior Kimmie Dyer (Copley,
OH/Copley) smashed 16 kills while
junior Hillary Monnin (Russia,
OH/Russia) hit 13 kills without an
error. Tournament MVP Amy Cox (Newark,
OH/Catholic) had 46 assists with four
digs and four kills. Hiram senior Shaina Bryan (South Euclid,
OH/Brush) led the Terriers with 22
kills.
The Tigers earn their 16th straight trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Eight regional tournaments are set for Nov. 12-14. The NCAA will release complete matchups and site information on Monday at www.ncaa.com. Wittenberg will host one of the regionals.
Wittenberg advanced to the final after sweeping fourth-seeded Denison (12-18), 3-0. Cox and Dyer, both of whom smashed nine kills, led the Tigers. Cox also contributed 26 assists and seven digs. Junior Lauren Strowder (Cleveland Hts., OH/Cleveland Hts.) paced the Big Red, who were making their first conference tournament appearance since 2006, with seven kills and five digs.
Hiram posted a 3-0 victory over third-seeded Wooster (18-14), 25-19, 25-17, and 25-21 in its semifinal matchup. Bryan posted 16 kills and 11 digs to lead the Terriers, while the Fighting Scots got seven kills, six digs and five service aces from freshman Paige Parker (Springfield, OH/West Liberty Salem).
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Wittenberg (13-1, 28-2) posted a share of its 16th North
Coast Athletic Conference championship, while Hiram (13-1, 23-9)
claims its second title and first since 2005. Allegheny
follows the Tigers with five championships, including four straight
between 1988-91. Kenyon and Ohio Wesleyan each hold a pair of
titles, while Wooster has claimed one.
Wittenberg will host the 2010 NCAC tournament with semifinals on
Friday and the championship match the following day. The Tigers
start things off against fourth-seeded Denison (7-7, 12-17) at 5:30
p.m. The Tigers swept this fall’s regular season series
against the Gators in straight sets. Second-seeded Hiram will
square off against third-seeded Wooster (9-5, 18-13) at 8:00 p.m.
This matchup is a repeat of last year’s semifinal contest.
The Terriers took last year’s tourney matchup, as well as
both meetings between the two teams this fall. Hiram edged the
Fighting Scots, 3-0, last week, and took a 3-2 decision earlier in
the season.
The championship game is set for 2:00 on Saturday.
Tourney Notes: The tournament winner receives the
NCAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament ... Wittenberg
is the defending tournament champion and has won 15 NCAC
Tournaments. Allegheny follows the Tigers with five tourney
championships, including four straight between 1988-91. Kenyon and
Ohio Wesleyan each hold a pair of titles, while Hiram and Wooster
have each claimed one ... Wittenberg and Hiram have met in the past
eight tournament championship games. The Tigers have claimed seven
of those meetings; the Terriers won their first NCAC tournament
title in 2006 ... Hiram is making its 10th-straight tournament
appearance. Wooster is making its sixth post-season appearance
since 2004, the first year the tournament changed to a top-four
event. Denison is making its first appearance in the tournament
since 2006.