SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (Nov. 2) – The Denison University volleyball team fell in four sets at Wittenberg University at the Pam Evans Smith Arena in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. 

The loss drops Denison to 6-1 in the NCAC and 12-11 overall. Wittenberg improves to 5-2 in conference and 14-8 overall. 
 
Both teams will compete in the upcoming NCAC Tournament, which will start with the quarterfinals on Nov. 12. Denison, who has clinched the top seed and regular season title, will host the semifinals on Nov. 15 and championship match on Nov. 16 at Livingston Gymnasium. 
 
Trailing by five points late in the first set, Denison put together a furious run to snag a 27-25 victory. A pair of Claire Hamilton kills helped account for the final three points by the Big Red. 
 
Wittenberg responded with a wire-to-wire set two victory to even the match with a 25-20 margin. 
 
The Tigers then went up 2-1 after pulling out a tight back and forth third set. The two teams battled throughout the set before Wittenberg tallied the final two points to take it 26-24. 
 
Wittenberg recorded six of the final seven points to secure a 25-19 win in the fourth set. That late surge pushed the Tigers to secure the victory. 
 
Hamilton led Denison with 16 kills. Ayla Dunbar finished with 13 kills and Cailey Johns put together a strong effort with 12 kills and a .355 hitting percentage. 
 
Maeve Perry had the team-high with four total blocks. Alice Kempf tallied 44 assists and 13 digs. Defensively, Sadie Habeeb finished with 25 digs while Whitley Metz chipped in 18 digs. 
 
Up Next: Denison will wrap up the regular season next weekend when they return to Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield. The Big Red will face Heidelberg and Ohio Northern on Nov. 8 as part of the NCAC/OAC Crossover event at Wittenberg.