Oberlin College Athletics

The 2009 Oberlin College volleyball team is coming off one of the best seasons in school history and is poised for even greater success this fall.

Fifth-year head coach Carey Cavanaugh, who is just four wins shy of moving into third on the all-time wins list, returns five starters and 10 letterwinners from last year’s squad that won the most conference games in school history.

The junior duo of Anna Frackman and Amanda Wysk is one of the most feared tandems in the NCAC and is expected to lead the Oberlin offense again this fall. Frackman, a 2008 All-NCAC Honorable-Mention selection, paced the frontline attack with 297 kills and was ranked second in the NCAC with 3.16 kills per game. Wysk, who missed half of last season with an injury, still managed to finish second on the team with 3.13 kills per game. First-year Laura Jessee, who stands at 5-foot-11, brings strength, intelligence and a variety of shots to the attack.

The Yeowomen return power and finesse in the middle with 2008 All-NCAC Honorable-Mention selection Maggie Jacobson leading the way. She recorded 59 blocks while also contributing largely on the offensive end - finishing third with 162 kills in 2008. Joining the middle brigade are rookies Rosie Eck and Chinwe Okona. Rosie is a six-footer from Maryland, while Chinwe is a 5-foot-9 jumper from Florida. Both will bring more strength and depth to the OC offense. Junior Melissa DeLombaert returns from an injury that cost her the entire 2008 season. In her freshman campaign she led the team with 78 blocks.

Senior Rita Kaplon, a 2008 All-NCAC Honorable-Mention selection, is back to orchestrate the OC offense as one of the elite setters in the conference. Throughout her career, Kaplon has improved her mental toughness while gaining the ability to match-up the Yeowomen hitters in one-on-one situations. The Johnson City, Tennessee, native played in all 110 games, finishing third in the league with 891 assists. Sophomore Liz Wong, who played in 27 matches as a rookie, looks to bolster her stats this season contributing where she can on the court.

Senior Tammela Platt and sophomore Lizzie Orfaly combined for 311 digs last season. The tandem looks to pull out all the stops resulting in what could be one of the best defensive years in school history. Platt, who is the school’s all-time digs leader, will lead the way at the libero position, while Orfaly continues to emerge after making great strides this spring.

The season officially opens September 1 at LaRoche College. The Yeowomen will then take part in a two-day tournament at Mount Union College, before beginning a heavy home schedule on September 11 – the first of 13 home matches of the season. The non-conference highlight comes in a September 12 showdown against Carnegie Mellon University that will feature a battle of the Kaplons, as sisters Rita and Megan, a sophomore for the Tartans, will match up for the first and only time in collegiate play. Conference play will finally get under way on September 26 with a play-date at Allegheny College.