Volleyball Wins Nationally-Ranked Thriller

Tiffin, Ohio – October 6, 2009 – The Heidelberg University volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Ohio Northern University in five sets (10-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 16-14) in a battle of nationally-ranked foes. The match was played in Seiberling Gymnasium, on the campus of Heidelberg.
 
Entering the match, ONU was ranked fourth in the nation, while the Berg stands 23rd. The win improved Heidelberg to 18-4 on the year and 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Berg stands atop the league standings with Capital University who has an undefeated mark at 2-0. ONU was handed its first regular season league setback since 2006 and only its second loss on the year to stand at 19-2 and 1-1 against league foes.
 
Tonight’s victory marked just the second time that the Berg has topped the Polar Bears in the history of the two programs. The last time Heidelberg came out on top of ONU was a 2-1 win on Oct. 14, 1986 in Tiffin. Coincidently the 1986 season was the only time that the Berg has claimed the OAC Regular Season title.
 
Added to its list of accomplishments for the Berg on the evening was its home match winning streak was extended to 20. Heidelberg has not fallen on its home court since the 2006 season. And the Polar Bears were the team that topped them, 3-1.
 
“This was an excellent win for our program,” stated 10th-year head coach Jason Miller. “We got down early, but battled back and did not quit. Everyone on this team is a fighter and we proved how tough we are and what a challenge it is to play on our home court.”
 
Leading the way for the Berg was Venessa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) with 17 kills and 16 digs for a double-double. Also seeing double was Jackie Reinhart (New Riegel, Ohio / New Riegel) with 11 kills and 19 digs. Rounding out three with double digit kills was Amanda Atchison (Frankfort, Ohio / Frankfort Adena) with 11. All-American Morgan Magers (Green Springs, Ohio / Old Fort) set up the offense and finished with 47 assists and made it three with double-doubles with her 13 digs.
 
Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) shared match-honors with 26 digs. At the net, Atchison, Jacki Street (Grafton, Ohio / Midview) and Marian Bevington (Celina, Ohio / Parkway) each had three block assists.
 
Heidelberg takes a break from OAC play on Saturday when Mount St. Joseph visits for a 1:00 p.m. contest.