OAC Coaches Poll (.pdf)
BEREA, OHIO – The Baldwin Wallace University volleyball program has compiled a 38-26 record the past two years with a young and maturing team. Entering the 2012 campaign, the youth has turned to experience and the Yellow Jackets have high hopes of competing for an Ohio Athletic Conference title and a spot in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
"We return a strong nucleus of upperclassmen and almost our entire starting lineup and rotation," said veteran Head Coach Vicki Brault, who enters her 18th season in Berea with 327 wins at the university and 397 in her career. "A veteran group of student-athletes who all gained valuable experience the past two seasons return and are hungry to continue the successes that we have had the past two years. They also know that we need to continue to improve every day if we want to contend for an OAC title."
Brault returns 14 letter winners and her team will be led by 5'10" senior two-time All-OAC hitter Rachel Switalski (North Royalton/Holy Name), 5'11" All-OAC outside hitter Amanda Sawicki (Mentor/ Lake Catholic), 6'0" junior Academic All-OAC middle hitter Colleen Bonacci (Stow/ Stow-Munroe Falls), 5'7" senior libero/ defensive specialist Natalie Emmons (Ashland), 5'8" junior rightside player Shannon Deluer (Olmsted Falls), 5'5" junior OH/ defensive specialist Taylor Burns (Tiffin/ Fostoria St. Wendelin) and senior setter Jessica Stitts (Eastlake/ North). The seven will be looked upon for both veteran production and leadership.
| 2012 OAC Coaches Poll | |
| 1. The University of Mount Union | 78(6) |
| 2. Heidelberg University | 71(3) |
| 3. Otterbein University | 67(1) |
| 4. Ohio Northern University | 56 |
| 5. Baldwin Wallace University | 52 |
| 6. Marietta College | 40 |
| 7. Capital University | 32 |
| 8. Muskingum University | 24 |
| 9. John Carroll University | 21 |
| 10. Wilmington College | 9 |
Switalski has been one of the top hitters in the OAC the past two seasons. Last fall, she had a team-leading .265 hitting percentage and was second on the team in kills (256) and blocks (43). She also added 33 service aces and 119 digs
Sawicki, who transferred from Marietta College, was an All-OAC choice in 2009, had to sit out 2010 due to transfer rules and made the All-OAC squad again last season. She hit .256 and had a team-high 377 kills to go with 34 blocks and 79 digs.
In addition, Bonacci hit .253 last season and had just 85 kills, but two years ago, she had 242 kills and 53 blocks. Barult is hoping she returns to her form from 2010. Also look for junior middle hitter Kayla Harris (Lima) to contribute if fully recovered from an injury and sophomore OH Kayse Schmucker (Kent/Roosevelt) saw action in 42 sets a year ago and had 56 kills.
In Emmons, Stitts, Deleur and Burns, Brault has four extremely versitile student-athletes who have the talent and ability to hit, dig, play defense and set.
Emmons, co-captain and the BW's Most Valuable Player a year ago, is one of the top defenders in the OAC. She led the team with 590 digs and had 27 sets assists, 17 aces and 27 kills. Stitts led the team with 877 set assists, had 284 digs, 83 kills, 35 aces and 25 blocks. Deleur was third with 131 and second with 391 digs and had 75 set assists, 28 aces and 19 blocks. Burns had 351 digs, was first with 54 aces and played in all 117 sets a year ago. In addition, as a freshman, she recorded 134 kills.
In addition, look for sophomore Katie Primeau (Pemberville/ Eastwood) to battle Stitts for the setter position. She appeared in 23 sets last season and had 163 set assists.
"Our goal every year is to win the OAC regular season and tournament titles," said Brault, who has three OAC regular season and one OAC tourney title to her credit. "We know that if we are able to play well at tournaments and do well in the OAC that we are deserving of going further. The OAC is an outstanding conference and we are looking forward to the challenge of competing for the OAC title in 2012."
BW opens its season at the Pacific Coast Classic in Claremont, California when its faces Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) on August 31 at 6:00 and then plays the host at 8:00. The Jackets open OAC play on September 19 when they travel to Muskingum University to face the Fighting Muskies at 7:00 p.m. BW will host the Marcia French Memorial Tournament in Berea from September 7-8.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
