Tiffin, Ohio – November 7, 2009 – The Heidelberg University volleyball team found itself in familiar territory, the OAC Tournament Championship Match. It was the third-consecutive year Heidelberg opened the tournament with two wins to earn a chance at a title. Heidelberg, the one seed, battled the third seed Ohio Northern University, but fell short of the title, 3-2 (19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 18-25, 15-11).
Heidelberg earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship following winning the OAC regular season and making it to the tournament finals. The 62 team for the NCAA Championship will be announced on Monday. It is the third-straight year the Berg will be making an appearance at the NCAA Championship and its first trip as an automatic qualifier.
Heidelberg stands at 27-7 overall, while Ohio Northern improves to 28-3.
The Ohio Athletic Conference released its 2009 all-league volleyball team in conjunction with the OAC Tournament today. Heidelberg University placed five players on the all-conference team and earned one player of the year accolades. Head coach Jason Miller was selected OAC coach of the year for the second time in his career.
Junior Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) was named the Libero of the Year for the second-straight year and was placed on the second team.
Tabbed a first team all-league performer were senior setter Morgan Magers (Green Springs, Ohio / Old Fort) for the second straight year and sophomore outside hitter Venessa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg).
Senior middlehitter Amanda Atchison (Frankfort, Ohio / Frankfort) joined Donelan on second team all-league honors. Sophomore outside hitter Jackie Reinhart (New Reigel, Ohio / New Reigel) picked up honorable mention.
In the championship game, Heidelberg’s attack game was led by Venessa Haase with a team-high 17 kills along with 25 digs. Backing Haase was Marian Bevington (Celina, Ohio / Parkway) and Amanda Atchison with 11 and 10 kills each, respectively.
Leading the offense was All-American setter Morgan Magers. Magers dished out 45 assists, to go along with eight digs and five kills.
Defensively, the back row was led by Brittany Donelan. Donelan had a team-high 28 digs. Also making an impact was Jackie Reinhart and Suzy Street (Grafton, Ohio / Midview) who each racked up 20 digs.
Thus far, Heidelberg is one of 62 teams that have earned a spot in the NCAA Championships. NCAA will announce the brackets on Monday, November 9.