BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College volleyball team clinched a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title tonight when it defeated Marietta College, 3-0, at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea. B-W won by the scores of 30-16, 30-22 and 30-17.
The Yellow Jackets, now 16-13 overall, finish with an 8-1 OAC regular season record and tie for the title with both Capital University and Ohio Northern University. By tie-breaker, B-W receives the top-seed in next week's OAC Tournament which begins on Tuesday, November 4. A win on Tuesday and B-W would then host the OAC Final Four in Berea next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8. The winner of the 2003 OAC Tournament will receive the OAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournamet.
The regular season title by B-W is its second in the past three years. The Yellow Jackets also won an OAC Tournament crown in 2000.
"I am very proud of our women," said an elated Head Coach Vicki Brault. "We bounced back from Tuesday's match at Capital (a 3-1 loss) to play pretty well and clinch a title tie. Now we have to get ready for the tournament.
"I am so proud of this group of seniors," continued Brault, the second winningest volleyball coach in Yellow Jacket history. "This senior group has gone through a lot together and accomplished a great deal. Winning the OAC regular season title is a tribute to them. Now, I hope we can play well in the OAC Tournament, win the title and earn an NCAA national tourney berth."
In tonight's win versus Marietta, B-W was led by senior two-time All-OAC outside hitter Emily Bowen's (Tiffin Columbian) 15 kills and senior three-time All-OAC middle hitter Cassie Palmer's (Greenwich/ South Central) 14 kills and five blocks. Senior setter Angie Elser (Wooster/ Northwestern) directed the offense and had 39 set assists. Freshman libero Kim Stoll (Norwalk St. Paul) led the defense and had a team-leading 16 digs.
B-W will find out tomorrow who it plays in the OAC quarter final round on Tuesday. Regardless, match time in Berea will be at 7:00 p.m.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by phone at 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Vicki Brault, please call her at 440-826-3254, FAX her at 440-826-2192 or e-mail her at vbrault@bw.edu.
275 Eastland Rd.