"Tiffin"

  The MVNC women's volleyball team used a well-rounded attack to defeat Tiffin University 15-9, 15-7, 15-8 in Mid-Ohio Conference action on Thursday evening at MVNC.

  With the victory, the Lady Cougars (24-7, 12-1) also extended their NAIA-record home winning streak to 63 consecutive matches dating back to 1991.

  "We played well at all aspects of the game at various points tonight," said MVNC head coach Paul Swanson. "Every combination of players that we put on the floor performed well and contributed to this victory. Courtny (Testa) had a very good all-around match."

  The two teams traded points to a 5-5 tie in the first game. Following an ace by Tammy Custer and a kill by Christa DeLorenzo, Erin Weddington served the Lady Cougars to a 14-5 margin with help from the hitting of Testa and Rachel Widener.

  Tiffin (11-12, 4-8) rebounded by scoring four straight points to close the gap to 14-9. However, after a sideout, Tara Seiter recorded a block to give MVNC a 15-9 victory.

  The Dragons took an early 6-4 lead in the second game. Then, with Mandy Metzger serving, the Lady Cougars pulled ahead 10-6 behind two kills by Custer and a kill by DeLorenzo. After a pair of sideouts, Widener recorded two kills and a block to balloon the lead to 13-6.

  Tiffin scored another point to trim the lead to 13-7, but that was as close as the Dragons would come as Custer and Seiter pounded back-to-back kills for a 15-7 win.

  Tiffin raced out to a 6-1 lead in the third game as MVNC adjusted to a new line-up. However, with Testa serving, the Lady Cougars roared back to take an 11-6 lead as Testa served ten straight points including two aces. Widener also smashed two kills during the run.

  The Dragons tried to come back as they pulled to 12-8. However, MVNC ran off the final three points as Seiter and Jessica Huffaker combined for a block, Testa recorded a solo block, and Widener ended the match with a kill.

  Seiter led the team with 12 kills and Widener finished with 11 kills. Testa recorded a team-high four blocks and two aces while adding three kills. Custer and DeLorenzo added six and four kills respectively, while Seiter finished with three blocks. In addition, Huffaker and Widener contributed two blocks each to the winning effort.

  The Lady Cougars will be right back in action on Friday as they travel to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, for the National Christian College Athletic Association District I Tournament. The winner of the district tournament receives an automatic berth in the NCCAA National Tournament at Lee College in Cleveland Tennessee.

  MVNC begins play on Friday against Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College. They follow that with a match against the host school, Geneva College. Finally, they wrap up the pool play portion of the tournament against Malone College. The semi-finals and finals will be played on Saturday.