Tiffin, Ohio – November 8, 2009 – The Ohio Athletic Conference announced the 2009 Volleyball All-OAC Team in conjunction with the OAC Tournament Final yesterday, Nov. 7, at Heidelberg University’s Seiberling Gymnasium. Heidelberg had five named to the all-league team led by Libero of the Year Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) and first team recipients Morgan Magers (Green Springs, Ohio / Old Fort) and Venessa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg). Earning a nod on the second team was Amanda Atchison (Frankfort, Ohio / Frankfort Adena) and Donelan, while Jackie Reinhart (New Riegel, Ohio / New Riegel) was an honorable mention selection.
Thus far in 2009, under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Jason Miller, Heidelberg claimed the program’s second OAC Regular Season Title and finished runner-up in the OAC Tournament, which has earned the team its third-straight appearance in the NCAA Championship. The 62 team field of the NCAA Championship will be announced on Monday. Overall Heidelberg stands at 27-7, which ties for second for wins in a single-season at the Berg. Following Heidelberg’s sweep of Muskingum University in the OAC Quarterfinals Miller picked up his 200th coaching victory. For his success with the Heidelberg program, the league head coaches voted him the OAC Coach of the Year for the second time (2007, 2009).
For the second-straight year Donelan was named the conference’s top libero and was a second team honoree. She leads the team with 662 digs, for an average of 5.25 per set. She ranks second in the career record book with 1,887 digs and her 662 from this season ranks fourth. Donelan has also added 23 service aces.
Magers picked up her second-straight place on the first team. A 2008 All-American setter Magers has dished out 1,323 assists on the year and will graduate holding the top-four single-season assists record. For her career she owns the career assists record which currently stands at 5,590. She is the only player at the Berg, and just the third player in the OAC, to eclipse 5,000 assists. She also has over 1,000 career digs, with 294 coming in 2009. To go along with setting up the offense, Magers has contributed 90 kills and 29 service aces.
Earning her first postseason award is Haase. Haase has come into her own on the outside for the Berg in her sophomore campaign. She leads the team with 355 kills and is second with 474 digs. Her 355 kills ranks ninth in the single-season record book. More impressive is her single-season service ace record which stands at 79 and counting. In just two seasons, Haase already stands sixth with 119 career service aces.
Joining Haase as a first time postseason award winner is Atchison. In her final campaign she stands second on the team with 354 kills and with a .265 attack percentage. She leads the way with a 2.85 kills per set average. She has saved her best season for last, topping her previous three season of kills combined. Her 354 kills currently stands 10th in the single-season record book.
A sophomore, Reinhart is a two-time All-OAC honoree. As a freshman she was named the league’s rookie of the year and was tabbed an honorable mention selection. In 2009 Reinhart is second on the team with 61 service aces, while standing third with 283 kills and 473 digs. Her 61 aces ties for fifth in the single-season standings and for her career she sits sixth with 122.