Volleyball

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin Wallace University 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 BW in 14 seasons, returns eight letterwinners and four players who saw considerable action a year ago.

 BW 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, BW plays Anderson (Ind.) University at 4:00 p.m. and then plays Olivet (Mich.) College at 6:00 p.m.  The annual BW 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 BW 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