WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College volleyball team continues Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play with a trip to Otterbein University on Tuesday. First serve from the Rike Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Teams: Wilmington and Otterbein. The Fightin' Quakers enter the match with a 3-20 overall record and, despite winning a set at Marietta College on Saturday, are in search of their first OAC victory. The Cardinals are 20-4 overall and 4-1 in OAC competition having recently defeated Heidelberg University in four sets. The Cardinals defeated two Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) foes - Hanover College and Bluffton University - on Saturday.
The Coaches: A new era of Wilmington volleyball has arrived as Andy Riesenberg, an experienced coach at the NCAA Division I, II, III and club levels, enters his first season leading the program in 2019. The Mount St. Joseph University alumnus has spent time at Southern Illinois University, Xavier University and Ohio University as an assistant coach as well as a stint as head coach at NCAA Division II institution Lake Erie College. Monica Wright, 2005 graduate of Wittenberg University, is in her 13th season as Otterbein's head coach. She's led the Cardinals to four OAC championships (two regular season and two tournament).
The Players: Wilmington offensively relies on the duo of Jillian Wesco (156 kills) and Taylor McCuistion (140 kills) as the two have combined for over 54 percent of the team's kills. Setter Summer Wilbur averaged 5.93 assists per set while Karley Schlensker averages 5.21 digs per set in the back row, good for second-best in the OAC. Mariella Szrom is the squad's leading blocker with 36 on the year. Tate Eppard leads both Otterbein and the OAC in total kills (299) and kills per set (3.74). A trio of other Cardinals - Emily Shuk, Julia Vermilion and Dasha Bruyako - all put down at least two kills per set. Carlie Craycraft dishes out just shy of 11 assists per set while Ashley Leon puts up over digs per set.
AVCA Top 25 Poll: Otterbein is receiving votes to be ranked in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll.
Series History: Since the 2008 season, Wilmington is 0-12 against Otterbein including falling in straight sets in a non-conference match earlier this season. More information can be viewed by visiting the link above.
Coverage: Live video and live statistics of the match will be available will be available – visit the links above.
Social Media: Follow Wilmington athletics on social media! The Fightin' Quakers have a presence on Facebook (Wilmington College Athletics) as well as Twitter and Instagram (@DubCQuakers).
Up Next: Wilmington hosts Baldwin Wallace University for a 1 p.m. match on Saturday.