The 2023 season will mark Erica Rau’s 13th as the head coach of the Oberlin College women's volleyball team. In the spring of 2016, she was also named as the department's senior woman administrator (SWA) and assistant director of athletics.
Since taking over the Yeowomen, Rau has changed the culture within the program as she is the all-time leader in wins (98) while ranking second all-time in winning percentage.
In her role as SWA, Rau serves on the athletics' senior staff and is the deputy title IX coordinator for athletics for the institution.
The Rau File
- Five double-digit win seasons in her 12 years at the helm after the program had just two in the previous 10 years
- Tied a school record for conference winning percentage in 2013 (.500 / 4-4)
- Mentored 15 players to All-NCAC honors
- AVCA All-Academic award for 10 years in a row
- Guided Molly Powers to the school record in digs in 2016
- In 2018 Lexi Mitchell earned All-NCAC First Team honors, finishing the year second in aces per set and third in kills per set
- In 2016 freshman Lexi Mitchell led the NCAC in aces and was a Second Team All-NCAC selection
- Mentored three NCAC First Team players, the last being Lexi Mitchell in 2018
- American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award every year since 2011
- Prior to Oberlin spent three years as an assistant coach at Carnegie Mellon University, helping the Tartans to the NCAA Tournament in 2008
- Named 2006 High School Coach of the Year by the Gettysburg Times.
- Played at Gettysburg College from 2002-2005. A four-year starter at middle hitter, she helped lead the Bullets to four-straight Centennial Conference Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. During her senior season she served as team captain and was named second team all-conference.
- Graduated from Gettysburg with a BA in management in 2006 and received an MBA from Robert Morris University in 2012.
