SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Allegheny volleyball team was defeated in straight sets by fifth-ranked Wittenberg in a North Coast Athletic Conference match at the Pam Evans Smith Arena.
 
Wittenberg (13-2, 2-0 NCAC) topped the Gators (5-16, 0-2 NCAC) by set scores of 25-8, 25-16, and 25-13.
 
Alysha Crowther and Grace Lengauer each had four kills to tie for the Allegheny team lead, while Rachel Slotterback totaled 10 digs, and Eden Merkle had both of the Gators' service aces.
 
The Tigers quickly took control in the opening set, jumping out to leads of 9-0, 12-1, and 18-2. Late in the set, the Gators finally gained some footing, with kills from Olivia D'Andrea and Jyl Russotti fueling a 5-2 run, but the early deficit was too early to overcome as the Tigers closed out the set win.
 
In the second set, Wittenberg quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but a Tiger setting error began a 4-2 run for Allegheny, that included kills from Lengauer and Crowther, to cut the deficit to 7-4. Moments later, three Tiger errors pulled the Gators to within two, 10-8, but Wittenberg countered with an 8-2 surge to pull ahead 18-10.  A kill from Tamara Babic and another Tiger attack error briefly cut the cap to 18-13, but Wittenberg would close out the set on a 7-3 run to claim the 25-16 win.
 
The teams traded points to open up the third set, with aces from Merkle on back-to-back serves pulling the Gators to within 6-5. The Tigers opened up a five-point lead and threatened to pull away, but kills from Babic, D'Andrea, A'Jhana Dicko, and Elizabeth Debich kept it close, trimming the deficit to 13-10. It was as close as Allegheny would get, however, as the Tigers rattled off a 10-1 run to jump out to a 23-11 lead from which the Gators could not recover.
 
Haley Horner led Wittenberg with 11 kills and four blocks, while teammate Taylor Yontz recorded a match-high 14 digs. As a team, the Tigers hit an efficient .333, while limiting the Gators to a -0.93 hitting percentage.
 
Allegheny will look to bounce back when it returns to action on Wed. Oct. 10, with a 7 p.m. home match against NCAC foe Wooster in the David V. Wise Center.