The Tiffin University volleyball team came into Saturday knowing what they had to do, and they did it. Tiffin dropped Assumption in straight sets and then defeated Christian Brothers in five sets.
Tiffin vs. Assumption
Tiffin took on a rebuilding Assumption Greyhounds team in their first game on Saturday, and Tiffin was dominant. Tiffin was off and running from the first serve, soaring ahead 10-3. The Greyhounds closed the gap to 17-14, but that was their last gasp as the Dragons finished the 1st set on an 8-3 run. Tiffin committed only three errors in the set, hitting at a .342 clip.
Tiffin found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard early in the 2nd set, but a 14-4 run gave the Dragons an 18-10 cushion. Once again it was Assumption that answered with a run, cutting the Tiffin lead to 23-20 late in the 2nd set. Grace Schreiber pounded the final nail in the coffin with a kill for a 25-21 set win.
The final set was neck and neck to the midway point with Tiffin holding the slightest of leads at 11-10. The Tiffin lead ballooned to 21-13 thanks to a 10-3 Tiffin run to distance themselves from the Greyhounds. An Assumption attack error was the final straw as the Dragons took the 3rd set 25-17.
Jenna Huffman and Danielle Hicks led Tiffin on the attack, collecting 11 kills each. Emily Weithman and Loryn Huffman were the facilitators for Tiffin, dishing out 21 and 14 assists respectively.
Tiffin vs. Christian Brothers
In their final game in Memphis Tiffin had to go the distance to earn the victory.
The first set was a doozy as neither side would give in. The Dragons held a 10-7 lead, but the Lady Bucs made their move, using a 7-3 run to take a 14-13 lead. Tiffin regained their composure and pressed on, quickly retaking a 19-18 lead. The Lady Bucs surged once more and had set point at 24-21. The Dragons didn't quit, fighting off two set points to tie the score at 24-24. The Lady Bucs were able to hold off the charging Dragons and take set one 30-28.
The 2nd set was all Tiffin, with the Dragons using a 15-4 run at the midway point in the set to sink the Lady Bucs 25-15. Christian Brothers returned the favor in the 3rd set, dropping Tiffin 25-15 to take a 2-1 set lead.
Tiffin pounced on the Lady Bucs in the 4th set, motoring ahead to a 10-3 lead. Tiffin kept their foot on the gas, powering their way to a 25-13 win to tie the match at two sets apiece.
In the 5th and deciding set, TU fell behind 3-0, but a 6-1 run by the Dragons gave Tiffin control at 6-4. Christian Brothers fought back to tie the score at 7-7, but the Lady Bucs' boat began to list as Tiffin finished the set on an 8-4 run to win the final set 15-11.
For Tiffin Danielle Hicks was on fire, clobbering 14 kills and registering an out of this world .591 hitting percentage. Jenna Huffman clocked in with 11 kills and five assisted blocks, and Kyley Keene chipped in with 10 kills and and 10 digs. Emily Weithman and Loryn Huffman once again guided the Dragons' offense, combining for 45 assists. As a team, Tiffin hit at a .267 mark and compiled 16 assisted blocks.
The Dragons move to 3-1 overall and will get a much needed rest before heading to the Bellarmine Tournament next weekend.