SPRINGFIELD – The Heidelberg University volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday at the Wittenberg Fall Classic.  The Student Princes toppled Trine in straight sets early in the afternoon before battling tough with 7th-ranked Wittenberg, but falling in four sets.

MATCH 1: HEIDELBERG 3 TRINE 0

After a rough start to the weekend on Friday, the Student Princes seemed to right the ship in their match against Trine. Heidelberg cruised to a win in the first set before battling in the second and third to earn the sweep of the Thunder.

After the first set was tied at 12, the Berg went on a roll to finish out the set, finishing it out 25-16.

The second set was a battle until the end when the Student Princes were able to come out on top. With the score tied at 27, Heidelberg wrapped things up with an attack error by Trine and a kill from Mariah Sullivan to take the set 29-27.

After taking one set easily and battling back and forth for the second, the third was a different story. Trine was able to build a 19-14 advantage, but the Berg would not back down. Eight straight points from the Student Princes gave them the edge, as an ace from Sarah Parker clinched the match with a 25-21 third set.

Parker led the way for Heidelberg in the match with 13 kills while Morgan Strenk added in 11 of her own for the Berg attack. Karlie DiRuzza notched 34 assists while Rachel Raimondo had a team-high 19 digs.

MATCH 2: #7 Wittenberg 3 Heidelberg 1

Facing off with host Wittenberg, the Student Princes knew it was a tall task. The host Tigers entered the weekend ranked seventh in the nation, and they lived up to that with a four-set win over the Berg.

After holding an early 6-5 edge in the first set, Heidelberg allowed five-straight to Wittenberg as they fell behind 10-6. The Tigers were able to maintain that lead throughout as they went on to take the opening set 25-18.

Wittenberg took a quick 7-1 lead in the second set, and things looked to be going the same as the first set, but the Berg had a response. The Student Princes battled all the way back, scoring five of the final six points of the set to take it 25-22.

In the third set, Wittenberg proved to be too much for the Berg again, as they pulled away early for the 25-14 set victory.

The fourth set was another battle on both sides, as late in the set the score was knotted at 17. A late push by the Tigers turned out to be the difference as the Berg fell 25-23.

Parker led the way for the Berg yet again with a team-high 17 kills, finishing the match with a .375 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT

Heidelberg will open up OAC play this week when they travel to Otterbein on Wednesday. That match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Westerville.