ALLIANCE, Ohio - The third-seeded Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball team defeated second-seeded Wittenberg University in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League Tournament Semifinals hosted by the University of Mount Union by a final score of 3-1 in Timken Gymnasium inside the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
BW (19-10) heads to the MCVL Tournament Championship game for the second time in program history after getting even with Wittenberg (20-11) following the Brown and Gold's regular-season loss to the Tigers. The Yellow Jackets will now play the top-seeded University of Mount Union on April 12 at 3 p.m. to fight for the conference crown and an NCAA Tournament berth. Wittenberg ends its season.
BW Leaders
- Senior All-MCVL outside hitter Ted Hofmeister (Powell/Saint Charles) lit up the Tigers with 18 kills and .586 hitting while also adding four digs and four blocks
- Senior Academic All-MCVL setter Evan Herbst (Hamburg, N.Y.) finished with a statline of a career-high 46 assists, a team-high six digs, and three blocks
- Sophomore All-MCVL outside hitter Daniel Latham (Westerville/Westerville Central) continues to dominate the MCVL tournament by recording 15 kills, four digs, three blocks, and three aces
- Senior All-MCVL outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) recorded nine kills, five digs, three aces, and one assist in his fourth MCVL Tournament game
- Junior Academic All-MCVL middle hitter Josh Steinitz (Towson, Md./Friends School of Baltimore) played a huge role in BW's win by contributing seven kills, three aces, and two block assists
- Junior All-MCVL middle hitter Colby Whiteside (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) defended the net by tying a career-high eight blocks
Wittenberg Leaders
- Freshman middle hitter and MCVL Rookie of the Year Adam Blair and junior outside hitter Michael Yurk each tallied 11 kills
- Freshman setter Carson Hill assisted 37 times for the Tigers
- Junior libero Jake Downs had a game-high eight digs
First Set (Wittenberg 25-20)
- Wittenberg led in kills 15-12
- Yellow Jackets hit .222
- Tigers hit .440
Second Set (BW 25-15)
- BW led in kills 15-7
- Yellow Jackets hit .000
- Tigers hit .500
Third Set (BW 28-26)
- Both teams had 15 kills
- Yellow Jackets hit .270
- Tigers hit .200
Fourth Set (BW 25-13)
- BW led in kills 10-9
- Yellow Jackets hit .563
- Tigers hit .045
