The Tiffin University volleyball team started their season with a 3-1 loss to Newman, but rebounded with a 3-1 victory over Arkansas-Monticello in the nightcap. 

Tiffin vs. Newman

The Dragons looked like world beaters in the 1st set, pummeling the Jets from the start. Newman pulled within two points at 9-7, but a 9-3 Dragons' run made sure the Jets stalled. Tiffin hit at a .312 clip in the set, rolling to a 25-13 victory. As a team Tiffin registered 12 kills, committing only two attack errors. 

In the 2nd set, the Dragons' attack struggled, hitting at -.045 and committing 11 errors. Even with all of the mistakes, Tiffin was still in the set. The Dragons held a slim 9-7 lead, but the Jets were able to overcome Tiffin and finished the set on a 16-10 run to claim the set 25-17. 

In the final two sets, it was more about what Newman did versus what mistakes the Dragons made. The Jets made only two errors in the 3rd set, hitting at a blistering .364 clip. The Dragons made fewer mistakes, but it wasn't enough to overcome Newman's efficient attack as they fell 25-17. In the final set, the Jets flew even higher, hitting .410 with 19 kills. Tiffin registered 13 kills and a .257 hitting percentage, but they didn't have enough as they dropped the final set 25-22.

As a team, Tiffin's defense was opportunistic at the net, collecting one solo block and 16 assisted blocks. Individually, Jenna Huffman led Tiffin with 12 kills, seven digs, seven blocks, and a .310 hitting percentage. Kasey Adelsperger added 11 kills, hitting at a .364 mark. Emily Weithman finished with 21 assists and Loryn Huffman chipped in with 19 assists in her college debut. Taylor Lattimore was the leader defensively, registering 20 digs.

Tiffin vs. Arkansas-Monticello

The Dragons flipped the script in their second game, falling in set one 25-21, but rallied in the final three sets.

The Dragons and Blossoms went back-and-forth in the initial set, with Tiffin holding a late 17-16 lead. Arkansas-Monticello finished the set on a 9-4 run clinch the opening set. 

The 2nd set was another tight and tense affair, with Tiffin slowly pulling away midway through the set, holding a 16-10 lead. The Blossoms didn't wilt under the Dragons' pressure, pulling to within two points at 20-18. Tiffin was able to hold off the charging Blossoms to win set number two 25-21.

The second set had a traumatic effect on Arkansas-Monticello as the Dragons blew the doors off the Blossoms in the 3rd set. Arkansas-Monticello's attack imploded in the set, committing 11 errors and hitting at a -.179 clip. Tiffin motored home to a 25-14 3rd set victory. 

In the final set, it was all Tiffin. The Dragons registered 14 kills and clocked in with a .379 hitting percentage. Arkansas-Monticello still couldn't find their attack as they committed 10 more errors as Tiffin took the final set 25-13.

Once again, Tiffin's defense at the net was stellar, collecting two solo blocks and 16 assisted blocks. Jenna Huffman led the way again, finishing with 15 kills, 14 digs, one solo block, and six assisted blocks. Sydney Gilland added nine kills for the Dragons, Emily Weithman collected 24 assists, and Taylor Lattimore reeled in 27 digs.

The win is not only the first for the Dragons in 2017, it's the first for first year Head Coach Shauna Hurles. Tiffin will be right back at it tomorrow, playing two more times at the Christian Brothers Invitational.