Ada, Ohio – September 4, 2010 – The nationally ranked Heidelberg University volleyball team finished with a 3-1 record at the 2010 ONU Invite. Ohio Northern University was the host institution of the five-team invitational at the ONU Sports Center in Ada, Ohio. Joining the Berg was the host Polar Bears, along with the College of Wooster, Thomas More College and Defiance College.
ONU, a nationally ranked team as well, won the invite with a 4-0 record followed by Heidelberg at 3-1. Thomas More went 2-2 and Wooster was 1-3. Rounding out the team records was Defiance at 0-4.
Action opened for the Berg on Friday with a sweep of Defiance (25-20, 25-15, 25-15). In game two of the invite the Berg rebounded from a 2-0 deficit to top Thomas More in five sets (21-25, 13-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-9). On Saturday Heidelberg topped Wooster in three (25-18, 25-20, 25-23) and finished the invite with a hard fought 3-2 setback to ONU (25-17, 25-19, 18-25, 22-25, 15-10).
For their overall outstanding play, Heidelberg’s Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted) and Marian Bevington (Celina, Ohio / Parkway) were two of six named to the All-Tournament Team.
In the win over Defiance, Bevington led the way with 12 kills, to go along with three digs and an assist. Rachel Ferguson (Brighton, Mich. / Brighton) dished out 29 assists and had seven digs. Donelan paced two with double digit digs with 19.
Against Thomas More, Bevington returned with 12 kills and was backed by Jackie Reinhart (New Reigel, Ohio / New Riegel) with 10, along with nine apiece fromVenessa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) and Amber Welfle (Norwalk, Ohio / St. Paul). Ferguson had a career-high 40 assists and completed her second double-double in three matches with 13 digs. Five different players recorded a service ace and Ferguson led the way with two.
The back row was led by Donelan with 23 digs. Reinhart made it two with double-doubles, tallying 12 digs, to go along with her 10 kills. At the net, Bevington has six block assists and one solo block.
Haase provided a spark for the Berg hitters against Wooster. She finished with 13 kills followed by Bevington’s nine. Haase picked up her first double-double on the year after recording 16 digs, which was second behind Donelan’s 17. Ferguson led the offense yet again, dishing out 33 assists.
In its hard fought battle with the Polar Bears, four hitters finished in double digits for Heidelberg. Bevington tallied 16 kills, which was just shy of her career-best. Reinhart and Haase both had double-doubles. Finishing with 12 kills and 17 digs was Reinhart, while Haase had 10 kills and 14 digs. Ferguson set up a career-best 40 kills, while adding 17 digs to mark three with double-doubles.
Adding to the defense was Donelan with 30 digs and Jacki Street (Grafton, Ohio / Midview) with four block assists.