The extended wait for the Oberlin College Volleyball team to taste victory finally came to an end when they defeated La Roche College of Pennsylvania, three games to none on Oct. 12.

“Losing is not fun. We have the talent and it doesn’t make sense that we lose more often than win,” junior captain Amber Coleman said
Although the match was closer than expected, the Yeowomen, for only the second time this year and the fourth time in the past two seasons, came out ahead when the match was over.

“I believe every game I go into that we can win,” Coleman said.

In what was a hard and determined effort from the first point to the last point of the match, the Yeowomen overcame a 28-26 deficit to capture the first game, 31-29. With great play by both teams in the second game of the match, the Yeowomen won their longest game of the year by a score of 34-32.

In what has become familiar to a team that has started off quickly in most of its matches this season, the Yeowomen once again found themselves up two games to zero — the sixth time this season. Unlike other matches, though, Oberlin closed the visitors out by winning 30-28 in the final game of the match, pushing their season record to 2-26.

“We should have won, I am glad we did not lose,” Coleman said.

Aided by great play from first-year Shoshannah Bramlett and Coleman, the Yeowomen powered their way past the Lady Red Hawks for a convincing victory that was sweet for the whole team.

“It was great. We finally pulled everything together,” junior Adrienne Zoller said.

Recent action for the Oberlin College Volleyball team has centered on play in Gambier, Ohio at Kenyon College. With trips to Kenyon College each of the past two weekends, the Yeowomen have become rather used to the surroundings of the Kenyon gym.

In its first weekend of competition, the Yeowomen faced two conference opponents in Kenyon College and Ohio Wesleyan University, but fell to both teams in three games. The two matches concluded the conference schedule as the team finished with an unimpressive mark of 0-8. Although the team lost both games, they were without several key players due to illness and prior obligations.

“The people that did play, did a great job and showed that they could step in,” Coleman stated.

This past weekend, the Yeowomen returned to Gambier to compete in the Kenyon Invitational. Along with Oberlin College, Kenyon, Denison University and Defiance College rounded out the field in a modified round robin tournament.

On Friday evening, Oberlin faced conference opponent Denison in a non-conference match. The results were much the same as they were during the season as Oberlin fell to Denison in a closely contested match three games to zero. After a short break, the team went back to action to face non-conference opponent Defiance. Oberlin proved overmatched, falling three games to zero in their night cap by the scores of 30-23, 30-13, 30-9. Defiance moved to 18-7 with its victory over Oberlin.

Although the season for the Yeowomen has been filled with disappointment, the team has managed to stay together and be positive in an effort to push through a tough season.

“This year has been rough but I feel we’ve stuck together the best we can,” Zoller said.

Oberlin wrapped up their season at home last night against Defiance. Oberlin fell to Defiance in all three games: 30-19, 30-15, and 30-23.
The volleyball team will graduate two seniors: Emily Enderle and Christina Morgan. Despite losing Enderle and Morgan’s experience, the team expects a good off season, hopefully resulting in a powerful team for the next year.