BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College volleyball team was picked to finish sixth by the coaches in the Ohio Athletic Conference in a preseason poll conducted by the OAC Office with the leagues 10 volleyball coaches.
A year ago, the Yellow Jackets finished 18-14 overall and 6-3 in the OAC as Head Coach Vicki Brault’s team again played one of the most competitive schedule in NCAA Division III, including opening the season against the defending national champion for the third year in a row. This season, Brault, who has an outstanding 341-211 career record, including a 271-161 mark at B-W in 14 seasons, returns eight letterwinners and four players who saw considerable action a year ago.
B-W received 46 total points to rank sixth in the voting.
The top returning players are senior middle hitter Maria DePeters (Williamsville, N.Y./ Mt. St. Mary Academy), sophomore setter Casey Passen (Ashville/ Teavys Valley), sophomore outside hitter Rebecca Pittenger (Alliance/ Senior) and sophomore defensive specialist Lissy Grame (Berea).
The Yellow Jackets open the 2008 schedule on riday and Saturday, August 29-30 at the Kalamazoo (Mich.) College Hornet Invitational Tournament. On the opening day, B-W plays Anderson (Ind.) University at 4:00 p.m. and then plays Olivet (Mich.) College at 6:00 p.m. The annual B-W Marcia French Memorial Tournament is on Friday and Saturday, September 5-6. The OAC opener is on Sept. 23 at Wilmington College at 7:00 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Vicki Brault, pleace call him in the office at 440-826-3254, FAX her at 440-826-2192 or via e-mail at vbrault@bw.edu.
2008 Ohio Athletic Conference
Volleyball Preseason Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Points
1. Ohio Northern (9) 81
2. Mount Union 71
3. Capital (1) 61
4 (tie). Heidelberg 51
Muskingum 51
6. BALDWIN-WALLACE 46
7. John Carroll 38
8. Otterbein 29
9. Marietta 19
10. Wilmington 11
2008 Volleyball Outlook
Brault, one of the top coaches in all of Division III, returns for her 14th season at the helm of the Yellow Jacket program. She has an impressive 341-211 career record, including a 271-161 mark at B-W with an 80-38 slate against OAC foes. Her teams have won three OAC regular season crowns and one OAC Tournament title and twice advanced to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
“Our program has great tradition,” said Brault. “The tradition began with the legendary Marcie French and I am priviledged to have the opportunity to work to keep it strong.
“Our student-athletes are aware of the tradition and proud of it and proud to be a part of it,” said Brault. “Every year, our goal is to win the prestigious OAC title and have an opportunity to represent the conference at the NCAA Tournament level.”
B-W finished last season with an 18-14 overall record, including a 6-3 mark in the OAC, while playing one of the most competitive schedules in the country. Gone are four-time All-OAC outside hitter Kelsey Hills, 2007 OAC Libero of the Year Meggie Marten and four-year contributor and hitter Betsy Gilbert.
This season, the Yellow Jackets again will compete at the highest level with no room for letdowns. The team will be led by senior middle hitter Maria DePeters (Williamsville, N.Y./ Mt. St. Mary Academy) along with seven other letterwinners who contributed a year ago. DePeters will be one of the top returning hitters in the OAC this season and had 434 kills and 115 total blocks in ‘07.
“Maria is an outstanding student-athlete and team-leader,” said Brault. “We will build our team around her and she will be the focal point of our attack on offense.”
The other returning starters include sophomore setter Casey Passen (Ashville/ Teays Valley), who tallied 1,362 assists and 270 digs in 2007; sophomore defensive specialist and outside hitter Rebecca Pittenger (Alliance/ Senior), who had 123 kills and 249 digs; and sophomore defensive specialist Melissa Grame (Berea), who recorded 286 digs.
In addition, the Yellow Jackets also return junior defensive specialist Marissa Jameyson (Wellington), sophomore middle hitter Abbey Thompson (Lorain/ Clearview), sophomore outside hitter Nicole Bates (Elyria/ Senior) and sophomore setter and rightside player Ashley Hilborn (Fredericktown/ Sparta Highland). All four earned varsity letters in 2007. B-W also welcomes transfer junior setter Kayli Tyson (Olmsted Falls), who sat out last season, and a handful of talented first-year student-athletes to help the push for another OAC title.
B-W opens 2008 play on Friday and Saturday, August 29-30 at the Hornet Invitational Tournament at Kalamazoo (Mich.) College. In addition to the annually rugged OAC schedule, B-W will host the 11th Annual Marcia French Memorial Tournament on September 5-6 and travel to the College of Mount St. Joseph Tournament on Sept. 26-27, the Washington (Mo.) University Invitational on Oct. 10-11 and play at the Midwest Invitational at Calvin (Mich.) College on Oct. 31-November 1.
“Our schedule is very challenging and we like it that way,” said Brault. “By playing a challenging schedule in dual matches, during the OAC regular season and in tournament play, we prepare our student-athletes for success. We look forward to beginning our season on August 29.”
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