Fall Sports

It was a rough season for the women's volleyball team. Unable to capitalize on the 215 kills from all-conference senior Katie Ruth or the 162 kills her sister first-year Anna Ruth added, the team was shutout in conference play losing all eight matches en route to a 3-23 final record.

Next year looks to be an excellent season for the women. Oberlin will return five of six starters including first-year Alana Kenmore who led the team with 582 assists. Oberlin also has commitments from four incoming first-years.

Forget "Refuse to Lose." "Mired in Mediocrity" could have been the catchphrase for this past season of OC football team. Unable to win a single game all season, the undermanned Yeomen surrendured 3300 rushing yards during their trying campaign. That disastrous statistic might have been attributed to the inefficiency of their defensive line, or perhaps it was caused by their lack of depth. Either way, head coach Pete Peterson threw in the towel after the end of last season and will be replaced by Jeff Ramsey.

Still, the 1998-99 football season was not without its share of highlights. Senior wide receiver Felix Brooks-Church captured the conference record for career receptions, while he and senior teammates Anthony Johnson, a wideout, and Jason Quinn, a defensive back, were named to the All-NCAC team.

The women's cross country team placed sixth in the NCAC this season, down from their fourth place finishes the previous five years. Led by juniors Medora Lytle and Rebecca Grossman, the Yeorunners also placed 19th of 29 teams at the Regional Championships. The team had strong showings throughout the season placing third at the Allegheny Classic and eighth out of 19 teams at the All-Ohio Championships.

The men's cross country team managed to avoid the conference cellar this year, but not by much. The team placed eighth in the NCAC for the second year running, but Coach Tom Mulligan stated that "[t]his is in no way indicative of the level of talent on this team. We suffered some injuries late in the season which really hurt us at the conference meet." The men rebounded at the regional championships to finish 19th out of 28 teams.

Oberlin started strong with a third place finish at the Allegheny Classic, and was consistently placing just behind conference powers Kenyon, Denison and Allegheny as the season progressed. Sophomore John Rogers and all-NCAC junior David Bevacqua led the young team which will return all seven of its top runners.

The men's soccer team returns all but two players, but will have a different coach come fall. Blake New, formerly the head coach for women's soccer, will take over for the departing Chris Barker (see related story page 35).

New inherits a team that was outscored by a ratio of more than two-to-one during the '98 season.

Despite being apparently outgunned, Oberlin managed to pull out big wins over Bluffton (7-1), Defiance (3-0), and Wittenberg (4-1) among others to finish at 5-13. Being competitive within the always competitive NCAC will also be one of New's goals since the Wittenberg victory was the lone conference win for the Yeomen.

Field hockey will also find itself under different leadership next year. Head coach Mindy Manolovich is leaving to be closer to her family. Manolovich will be replaced by Elizabeth Graham (see related story page 35).

The team will also be losing several key seniors including regional All-American and all-NCAC first-team Jesse Robinson, and Academic All-American goalie Liz Breakstone. The services of three of their top four scorers (the fourth being Robinson) will be retained, however, most notably in the form of first-year Emily Johnson. Johnson was named to the all-NCAC second team and was selected as a Regional All-American after leading the Stick Chicks with 13 goals.

In one of the more interesting ends to sports season, Oberlin Field Hockey closed with a win over Transylvania. The win over the Kentucky university was one of four non-conference victories for the team. Unfortunately, the team had less success in conference play finishing 4-8 in the NCAC en route to an 8-11 overall record.

Elsewhere on the playing fields, the OC women's soccer team finished 6th in the conference, marking its best finish in recent years at 7-8-2 (3-5 in the NCAC). Highlighting the season was the final game against second-place Earlham College, which the Yeowomen won 2-0. "We are continuing to gain respect from the conference teams," said Head coach Blake New.

"We do lose some significant players but have a strong core of returnees for next year," New said. Senior Lisa Novins, who led the Yeowomen in goals and assists, and owns the school's career scoring record, will be sorely missed. First-year Becky Kanuch and junior Maia Skutel, second and third in total points respectively, do remain and should anchor an offensive unit which outshot opponents 260-214 last season. Jane Wildeman will coach the Yeowomen next season when New takes over the reins as men's head coach.