Indianapolis, Ind. – November 8, 2010 – The Ohio Athletic Conference champion Heidelberg University volleyball team is set to embark on its fourth consecutive NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. Heidelberg will take part in the Great Lakes Regional hosted by Wittenberg University beginning on Nov. 11.
Heidelberg earned an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason tournament by virtue of winning its first OAC Tournament title. Overall the Berg has made four appearances in the regionals (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), all of which have come under head coach Jason Miller. Heidelberg is the no. 1 seed of the eight-team regional and will take on no. 8 seed Greenville College (Ill.) on Thursday in the quarterfinal round. FIrst serve is set for 3:00 p.m.
Joining Heidelberg and representing the OAC at the regional is no. 5 seed Otterbein University (26-6) and no. 7 seed Ohio Northern University (19-12), while no. 4 Calvin College (26-4), no. 3 Hope College (26-4), no. 6 the University of Chicago (30-12), and no. 2 seed Wittenberg College (30-2) will also compete.
Forty-two conferences were awarded automatic qualification for the 2010 championship. Two teams were selected from Pool B, which consists of independent institutions and institutions that are members of conferences that do not meet the requirements for automatic qualification. The final 19 berths were reserved for Pool C, which consists of institutions from automatic-qualifying conferences that are not the conference champion and any remaining Pool B teams.
Heidelberg boasts a record of 32-5 heading into regional play. Its 32 wins set a single season record, topping the old mark of 31 set in 2008. The Berg will carry a five-match winning streak with them heading into Thursday’s match.
Leading the way for Heidelberg are All-OAC selections Jackie Reinhart (New Riegel, Ohio / New Riegel), Brittany Donelan (North Olmsted, Ohio / North Olmsted), Venssa Haase (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg), Marian Bevington (Celina, Ohio / Parkway) and Jacki Street (Grafton, Ohio / Midview).
Reinhart was tabbed the league’s player of the year, marking the first ’Berg player to pick up that honor, Donelan was named the libero of the year for the third consecutive season.