Written: November 6, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Wittenberg University women’s volleyball team took care of business last weekend by winning the North Coast Athletic Conference volleyball tournament championship on its home court. As a result, the Tigers have earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament and the right to play the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, N.Y. on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Mount St. Joseph College in Cincinnati.

Wittenberg, the third seed, enters tournament action with a 30-8 overall record, while the sixth-seeded Mariners are champions of the Skyline Conference and owners of a 27-8 record. The host school is the first seed, while Ohio Northern University is No. 2.

Wittenberg, coached by Connie Surowicz, now advances to the postseason tourney for a fourth straight year and the sixth time in her eight years at the school. Last year, Wittenberg lost in the first round of the regionals to Thomas More.

The Tigers are led by several All-American candidates, including sophomores Brittany Baume (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), Shelli Habegger (Curtice, Ohio/Oregon Clay), Tiffany Keller (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) and Teresa Murphy (Blacklick, Ohio/Newark Catholic), the NCAC tournament MVP. Baume was the NCAC Newcomer and Player of the Year in 1999, while Habegger has already broken Wittenberg's season and career assist records and leads the nation in the category.