Tiffin, Ohio – October 26, 2010 – The Heidelberg University volleyball team clinched the regular season Ohio Athletic Conference title outright with its 3-1 victory over rival Ohio Northern University tonight in Seiberling Gymnasium.
The Student Princes came off strong in the first two sets winning 25-15 and 25-20. With a minor set back in set three, 26-24, the Berg came rallying back in the fourth set to post a 27-25 victory.
Heidelberg’s win gives them a perfect 9-0 record in league play and its second straight outright league championship. Overall the OAC regular season hardware also found a home in Tiffin in 1986. This is the first time that Heidelberg has gone undefeated in conference play. The Student Princes are ranked 13th in the nation and improved its overall record to 27-3. The victory also marked the 10th in a row for the Berg and its 27 wins ties for second all-time in a season. The Polar Bears fall to 16-11 and 6-2.
Offensively, the Berg had 61 of its 65 kills assisted. Sophomore reigning OAC Player of the Week Marian Bevington (Celina, Ohio / Parkway) led the team with 17 kills and five block assists. Following Bevington was freshman Amber Welfle (Norwalk, Ohio / St. Paul) who led the team with a .452 hitting percentage. Welfle ended the night with 15 kills and three block assists. Adding depth to the offense was junior Jackie Reinhart (New Riegel, Ohio / New Riegel) and sophomore Jacki Street (Grafton, Ohio / Midview) with 10 kills apiece.
Sophomore setter Rachel Ferguson (Brighton, Mich. / Brighton) contributed 33 assists on the night, backed by freshman Alexa Frank (Tiffin, Ohio / Calvert) with 19.
Leading the back row was senior libero Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) with 27 digs. Backing her was junior Venessa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) with 18. Ferguson and Reinhart posted a double-double with 18 and 14 digs, respectively.
Heidelberg served up a tough match with 10 aces. Leading the team was Haase with five. Also contributing were Reinhart with two and Donelan, Ferguson, and Welfle all with one.
The Student Princes began the OAC match by recognizing its three seniors and their contributions for the last four years. The trio of Donelan, Suzy Street (Grafton, Ohio / Midview) and student assistant Elizabeth Weithman.
Heidelberg is back in action this weekend at the Carthage Tournament in Kenosha, Wis. The Berg begins play against Carthage at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 29. Upon returning from Wisconsin, the Berg begins the OAC Tournament with a quarterfinal match at home on Tuesday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m.