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Otterbein University Athletics

vb
3
Winner Wittenberg Witten 21-7,7-0 NCAC
1
Otterbein OTT 24-6,7-1 OAC
Winner
Wittenberg Witten
21-7,7-0 NCAC
3
Final
1
Otterbein OTT
24-6,7-1 OAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wittenberg Witten 25 25 22 25 (3)
Otterbein OTT 23 22 25 16 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Season ends for volleyball in NCAA Tournament

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Unable to capitalize in big moments, the RV Otterbein University volleyball team saw its 2025 season come to an end in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals fell 3-1 to RV Wittenberg University at the Carnegie Mellon Regional.

Sophomore middle Emerson Baum led all players with 20 kills. Senior Brooke Barb added 12 kills, as Chandler Crowell ended the day with 10 kills. Both Barb and Crowell led the Cardinals with four total blocks apiece. 

"I think it felt like a NCAA 4-5 matchup … I thought that we put up a good fight for sure … I think we have expectations and we've created a culture where we can sustain this level of success, which is really exciting and I think we showed that this year," said head coach Monica Wright.

Otterbein broke out to a quick start, leading 21-16 late in the first set. The Tigers used a run of their own to tie the set at 21, before eventually claiming a 25-23 win in the first. The Cardinals once again held a lead late in the second set, but a gritty Wittenberg team came back to take a 22-21 advantage. A kill from Baum tied the set at 22, but the Tigers answered, closing the set on a 3-0 run to win 25-22.

Otterbein – the No. 4 seed in the Regional – extended the match by winning the third set, 25-22. Wittenberg led 22-21 before the Cardinals fired off four straight points. An ace from Barb followed by a kill from Baum secured the win for the Cardinals. 

The story was all Wittenberg in the final set. Taking advantage of Otterbein miscues, the Tigers completed the final set with a 25-16 win. 

"We've had awesome seniors with good leadership. I think I'm going to have to step into a more leadership role and lean on my teammates who are still here to get us back to NCAAs and win another conference championship," said Baum. 

"Coming in as a freshman, I was looking up to an All-American and I knew I was going to have to dig in and work hard and get to the place where I want to be, and I think all of us in my class knew that," said senior Olivia Vitaz. "Throughout our four years we wanted to take that challenge head on to make this program better."

Vitaz finished with a team-high 32 assists. On defense, Ashley Kefauver's 15 digs led the team while Grace Ganz added 13.

Otterbein concludes its season 24-6 overall, making its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and winning its fourth straight OAC Tournament title. 
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