Box Score
Wittenberg 3, Ohio Wesleyan 0

Sophomore outside hitter Melissa Murray (Chardon/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) posted 12 kills to lead the Ohio Wesleyan offense, but second-seeded Wittenberg defeated the third-seeded Bishops in a semifinal match of the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday in Granville.

The Tigers won the match by scores of 25-22, 25-16, 25-18.

The first set saw Wittenberg break a 6-6 tie with a 4-1 burst that included an ace by Nicole Belanger and kills from Tyler Linkhart and Katie Hiestand.  Ohio Wesleyan closed to within 11-10 on a kill by freshman middle blocker Ava Kutilek (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) and was within 13--12 after a kill by sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn Peters (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead), but the Bishops could not pull even.  Wittenberg led by a 20-15 count on a Gabi Hancock kill before a late rally that included a Murray kill and a block by freshman middle blocker Claire Solberg (Huron) and sophomore setter Abby Thierauf (Cincinnati/Milford) brought the Bishops within 24-22.  The Tigers got the final point on a Laney Yoder kill to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Junior outside hitter Eliza Richardson (Lakewood) delivered a kill that tied the second set at 10 apiece, but the Tigers answered with a 7-1 run that included 2 kills apiece from Hannah Schartz and Hiestand.  A Murray kill brought Ohio Wesleyan within 18-14, but Gabi Hancock contributed 4 kills as Wittenberg finished off the set with a 7-2 outburst.

Linkhart had a pair of kills as Wittenberg opened the third set with a 5-1 run, and the Tigers went on to build a 17-8 lead on a Hiestand kill.  Ohio Wesleyan fought back, with kills by Murray and Peters helping the Bishops pull within 20-14 before Thierauf and Solberg teamed up on a block and Solberg followed with a kill to make it a 21-16 score.  Linkhart came back with a pair of kills down the stretch to help Wittenberg close out the set and the match.

Murray led the Bishops with 12 kills, and Richardson finished with 9.  Freshman setter Olivia Osuna (Orlando, Fla./Phillips) had 19 assists, Solberg posted a team-high 5 blocks, and Peters led the Bishops with 13 digs.

Murray represented Ohio Wesleyan on the all-tournament team.

Box Score