T&C- Fall 2011, Week 11

otterbein university wednesday, nov. 9, 2011 vol. 93, issue 11 www.otterbein360.com

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Magic, puppets and music: It’s all in ‘Carnival!,’ the fall musical 4 College Avenue Students push to get Volleyball scores second coffee shop closes seventh sorority on straight NCAA doors 2 the books 3 tournament bid 8 bulking up:

Senior Patrick Schaefer and sophomore Heather Dell flex their muscles on stage in “Carnival!,” opening Thursday, Nov. 10.

photo by kristen davis

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news

Tan & Cardinal

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wednesday, nov. 9, 2011

t&c editorial staff

Lindsey Hobbs

Editor-in-Chief

Josh Adkins

News Editor

Kaity Vorbroker

Assistant News Editor

Leah Driscoll

Jordan LaBatte

Opinion Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor

Mike Cirelli Kristen Sapp Anna Schiffbauer

Sports Editor Copy Editor Photography Editor Business Manager

assistant editors Monica Begazo Alyssa Cook-Alexander Kristen Davis Katelyn Hanzel Sabrina Kohls Blythe Malone Ally Nagle Stephanie Parker Lindsay Paulsen Kathleen Quigley Julia Robideau Donny Shallahamer Katie Taggart Holly Takach Laina Thompson contributing staff Dom Porretta Jo Spencer contact us 614-823-1159 tanandcardinal@yahoo.com Tan & Cardinal Otterbein University Westerville, OH 43081 advertising For advertising information, contact Anna Schiffbauer at 614-8231159 or by email at tanandcardinaladvertising@ yahoo.com policies The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty and administration of Otterbein University.

Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not of the newspaper staff. Positions in unsigned editorials represent a consensus of the editorial staff.

The first copy of the Tan & Cardinal is free to the public. Each additional copy is $0.50, and payment can be made at the office at 33 Collegeview, Westerville, OH 43081. Offenders will be prosecuted.

The T&C staff would love to hear from you. Write a letter to the editor and tell us what you’re thinking. Letters to the editor are letters responding to a writer or an article published in the Tan & Cardinal.

Please keep your letter to 300 words or less. It is at the discretion of the Tan & Cardinal staff as to whether or not the letter will be published. Letters attacking an individual will not be accepted. Letters must include the author’s first and last name, signature, phone number, address and affiliation to Otterbein University.

photo by kristen sapp

Steven Collins

MeMories:

Debbie Mitchell, owner of Serendipity, said this tree scarf, made by her sister, is the only remaining visible trace of the coffee shop. The student-friendly hangout, formerly located just off campus in Uptown, closed down last Saturday after just over three years of business.

Serendipity shuts its doors After three years of business, the Uptown restaurant closed due to a variety of struggles

BY JOSH ADKINS News Editor

You could say that Debbie Mitchell’s opening of a shop in Uptown Westerville was an instance of pure serendipity.

A few years ago, after finding herself without a job, she decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of opening a cafe.

It all seemed to make sense, so naturally, she called it Serendipity.

Last Saturday, in a moment not as serene, Mitchell and her husband Jeff closed their shop’s doors for the last time.

The shop had recently celebrated its three-year anniversary, but Mitchell said that the location of the shop, just off the main strip of State Street, was likely one of the factors that led to the closing of the business.

Mitchell also said she is concerned for the health of her husband, who has a type of multiple sclerosis.

“It’s nothing that he wanted to let anybody really in on, but it’s gotten to the point where we

need to prioritize our life right now and taking some time for him to not work so hard is a big thing for us,” she said.

Mitchell said that closing the store was something that she had fought for a while, but eventually had to give in.

“It was something we talked about, that looked like our only option,” she said.

Otterbein’s inability to offer Uptown perks with students’ Cardinal Cards could have been a contributing factor to Serendipity’s end. Mitchell said she wishes that Uptown merchants could strike an agreement with Otterbein to bring more students off campus. “(There were) tiny little factors that led up to a hard decision,” she said.

The cafe, located just off State Street at 33 E. College Ave., sold coffee, tea, ice cream and sandwiches, among other items. It played host to performances, live music, student coffee hours and other events catered to Otterbein students.

She said it was hard to say goodbye to the place where she intended college students to come to study or just to have fun off campus, but “it just never quite caught on to that.”

“I think I’m going to miss the students, the kids, the young families ... I’m going to miss it all, really. That was my dream,” she said. “It’s hard waking up from a dream that you’ve always had.”

Chelsea Musselman, a sophomore art and creative writing major and former employee of Serendipity, said that she considered the Mitchells her family away from home.

“I spent every day of this past summer there,” she said. “It was something that was consistent when everything else wasn’t consistent.”

Mitchell said, “I think we had a great concept. I think we had a great idea. I think maybe Westerville wasn’t ready for it yet.”

Serendipity isn’t the only coffee shop to call Uptown home.

Heavenly Cup Espresso, owned

by Cheri Stearns and located on

25 N. State St., is another independently owned shop that caters to college students and the community.

While Mitchell mentioned the economy as a potential hindrance, Stearns said she doesn’t think the economy has much of an impact on Uptown businesses.

“It seems that some of the businesses on side streets have a harder time,” Stearns said.

As for the next step in Mitchell’s life, she said that she plans on volunteering to give back to the community as well as using the break to take a much-needed vacation.

Mitchell said that she’s a believer in the philosophy that for every door that closes, a window opens.

Mitchell’s greatest piece of advice for people is to follow their dreams, and not fall into the routine of just waking up, going to work and coming home.

“This world should be made of dreams. They come true,” she said.

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news

vol. 93, issue 11

www.otterbein360.com

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New plans for alternative sorority emerge A new addition to campus called Rho Alpha Chi awaits approval by Greek Life’s Panhellenic Council

BY KATIE TAGGART Contributing Writer

Six may soon become seven if a new sorority is approved on campus.

Sophomore art major Haley Amicon and freshman music education major Sophie Kuhn are working to create a new local chapter called Rho Alpha Chi (PAX) as an alternative sorority for Otterbein students.

The idea to create a new sorority came from a discussion between the two girls.

Amicon said that when she went through the recruitment process for another sorority, she couldn’t find what she was looking for. Kuhn didn’t go through the rush process, but said that she had no real desire to pledge.

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“Part of it was because I hadn’t been given a reason of why I wanted to,” Kuhn said.

“I personally felt like the Greek system made an effort to tell you about their sororities and fraternities, but they didn’t make as much of an effort to explain why you should join them.”

The mission statement of PAX is to “provide a sisterhood that promotes, supports and exemplifies cultural creativity throughout campus.”

It goes on to talk about expanding awareness of non-academic innovation, which includes the fine arts.

This, along with their “accept and be accepted” motto, will create what Kuhn called “a place to call home.”

POLICE REPORT

Twenty-eight girls are interested, but they are still looking for more.

“I want to have a variety of girls, different backgrounds, just all-around awesome women that can accept each other’s differences,” Amicon said.

“I think a new sorority on campus would be a welcome addition,” Steven Barros, president of Sigma Delta Phi, said. “It would add a seventh sorority, which would equal the amount of fraternities on campus.”

Barros said he thinks another sorority would attract female students who normally wouldn’t have considered joining the Greek community.

“The group is still in its early stages,” Michael Stumpf, assis-

According to the Otterbein University Police Daily Crime Log, the following has been reported from Oct. 29- Nov. 6.

10/29 A window screen was broken in Clements Hall. It was replaced by the Service Department.

11/2 A student reported a telecommunication harassment at 25 W. Home St. The student said that harassing posts were made on Facebook.

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11/4 destroyed.

A dispute between roommates was reported at Mayne Hall. Property was threatened to be

4.

11/5 A student reported a telecommunication harassment at 25 W. Home St. It was reported that an ex-boyfriend was constantly calling the subject.

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11/6 An argument was reported at Mayne Hall. One student told a second student that they needed the room to study, and an argument ensued. It was reported that the second student put their hands on the first student and said, “I’m going to beat your a--.” When questioned by OPD, the second student admitted to saying this. No charges were filed, but the incident was documented. inForMation CoMpiled by katie taggart

25 W. Home

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Clements Hall graphiC by kristen sapp

Mayne Hall

tant director of the Center for Student Involvement, said.

He said that the group has met with him as well as Vice President of Student Affairs Robert Gatti.

The group has been approved by Gatti, but the hurdle they must overcome is approval by the Otterbein Panhellenic Council.

“As a whole, Panhell supports (PAX),” said Nicole Putnam, president of the council.

The Panhellenic Council makes sure that chapters that want to start on campus become successful, which is why it recently made some changes to its constitution. Before, to form a sorority, a group of girls had to come together and go to

the council, and then the group became a sorority, according to Putnam.

Now, a group interested in forming a new chapter must have at least 30 members, write a constitution and bylaws and complete service projects, according to the Panhellenic Constitution.

Rho Alpha Chi is not the only chapter in the process of establishment. In mid-September, it was reported that a chapter of the national fraternity Phi Delta Theta was beginning to form on Otterbein’s campus.

“They are still in the process and working towards completing a list of goals the Interfraternity Council has set for them,” Stumpf said in an email.

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arts & ente

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Tan & Cardinal

What’s your flavor?

Name: Marina Pires Year: sophomore Major: musical theatre Hometown: West Palm Beach, Fla. What’s your flavor? mint chocolate chip What would your superhero name be? Amazon Warrior Any hidden talents? making unbelievably hideous faces Favorite Campus Center food: grilled chicken Favorite color: red Favorite song right now: “Iron”

by Woodkid If you’re interested in being next week’s flavor, please contact us at tanandcardinal@ yahoo.com.

photo and inForMation CoMpiled by kristen sapp

hands up:

pho

The production, which features different types of characters from all walks of life, is set in a post-WWII Fren

‘Carnival!’ brings dark magic to Cow

A magician, puppeteer and mysterious orphan headline this year’s fall mu

BY KATHLEEN QUIGLEY Contributing Writer

A womanizing magician, a melancholy puppeteer and a young runaway might seem like they have no business interacting.

To be honest, they probably don’t.

But this is the kind of chaos found in the Otterbein Theatre Department’s most recent production, “Carnival!,” which opens Thursday, Nov. 10.

In the magical setting of a French carnival, a headstrong woman is becoming jaded.

Her performance partner is a womanizing magician who uses illusions for the audience, but enchants the people around him.

Amid this chaos is a puppeteer whose bitter outlook leaves him with only the company of his puppets.

The darkness is all-encompassing, especially in a post-World War II setting.

Add an orphan to the mixture of misery and that is “Carnival!” in a nutshell.

Directed by Otterbein professor John Stefano, “Carnival!” is the second play to hit the stage of Otterbein’s Cowan Hall this year.

“Carnival!” is a coming-of-age story about a young girl named Lili, played by sophomore theatre major Heather Dell.

Lili loses both her parents and runs away to the carnival, where she meets Marco.

“I play Marco, who is someone that always knows what he wants,” junior musical theatre major Hayden Clifton said. “He is very sexually driven and powerful. He is a magician who can put a spell on all of the people around him.”

Rosalie, played by senior musical theatre major Emma Brock, is Marco’s partner. Brock believes that this partnership establishes a connection and understanding between the two characters that the audience can feel.

“Rosalie is very headstrong,” Brock said. “She’s the only one who really knows who Marco actually is. She isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind, but she continues to stay with him even though she knows what kind of person he is. It was very difficult to find this character, and not only make the connection once, but every night of the performance.”

It is this sense of connection that fuels the story.

“It’s the story that drives the plot,” Brock said. “A quiet meadow becomes this boisterous carnival.”

The show opens with the quiet meadow while the characters are preparing for the carnival. There is no dialogue; it is only the musical score.

But it allows the audience to see all of

the characters’ relationships beginning,” Brock said.

“The themes are very da had multiple discussions abo undertones drawn from the day,” she said. “It has a roug feel, but Lili brightens every shows them the light,” Clift “There are magic tricks thro show for the benefit of the used to supplement the mag brings to the carnival.”

Preparation began seven gearing up for the first perfo Thursday night.

“We want the audience t play is about the beauty of l and how people can affect y that change your life foreve said. t&c

&“Carnival!”       

Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 at 8 Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

Nov. 17-19 at 8 p.m.

Cowan Hall Admission is free to Ott and faculty.

ertainment

wednesday, nov. 9, 2011 Hey Otterbein, are you bored? Do you want to listen to some great music? Then tune in to 97.5FM or www.wobn.net every day for the best in college rock, great sports coverage and some awesome shows!

oto by kristen davis

nch carnival.

wan

sWord Fight:

Junior Hayden Clifton plays Marco, a magician at the carnival.

photo by kristen davis

usical

Stay tuned to The Wildcard for updates on sports games and shows!

s from the

ark, and we’ve out the dark e freaks of the gh carnival ything. She ton said. oughout the audience. It’s gic that Lili

Correction: The Tan & Cardinal reported that Salumeria, the potential Uptown deli that applied for a liquor license on the Nov. 8 ballot, would be selling carry-out liquor. This is incorrect. Alcohol would be served, but carry-out liquor will not be available. For additional election results visit:

n weeks ago, ormance

to see that the love and life, you in ways er,” Clifton

8 p.m.

terbein students soaring:

phioto by kristen davis

Freshman Jared Howelton jumps while in character during the dress rehearsal.

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Tan & Cardinal

& Sports editor ends Seniors say goodbye

season with T&C

Upon approaching the final stretch, this senior realizes that it is time to say goodbye Looking back on everything you find on the back pages of this newspaper, I still to this day question how I ever produced anything worth printing.

But should I be surprised? I don’t think so.

I work with a JORDAN staff of students LABATTE who have skills that I could never learn.

A team has nothing without leadership. Lindsey Hobbs is the editor-in-chief of this fine newspaper. She has directed this group of stressed-out students through all-nighters, copy problems and missed deadlines, and does not flinch. Captain anyone?

Each team has a tactical player. A person that makes plays by the books and believes in good structure. Our copy editor, Mike Cirelli, is that player. His knowledge of the English language and AP style makes him fantastic to work with. He makes writing clean, professional, accurate and, most of all, make sense. Without Mike I don’t think I would ever be published.

Our news editor, Josh Adkins, and assistant news editor, Kaity Vorbroker, are essentials. One, they produce news, something you may have forgotten as you skipped right to the sports section. Two, they handle the Police Report so you can know that some unfortunate souls had their iPods taken from their cars. I mean, how else are you supposed to know if your iPod is at risk?

In all seriousness, they bring you the information you should actually read and retain.

Steven Collins, a man built on Chuck Norris jokes and remembering the Alamo (as he always reminds me to do, and I still don’t know why), is our arts & entertainment editor. The calendars giving the release date of a movie or video game, or the

how-to on the zombie game that was on campus — it’s all him.

If I had to pick a teammate for any shooting game, Steve is my pick. What would Chuck Norris do at the Alamo?

And how about our opinion editor, Leah Driscoll? I am sure some of you may disagree with her views, but someone has to say something. I find her writing to be witty. I find myself completely agreeing with her opinion.

You’re so smart, Leah, and yes, your opinion does matter.

However, when you see Leah, you hear Alyssa Cook-Alexander, her other half or unofficial assistant opinion editor. Though she is in charge of our website, she still lets her thoughts go public. Should I put it in the Web folder?

The star of our team is by far Kristen Sapp, our photography editor. I almost wish she had my position, though she practically did. If you saw anything cool in sports, it was her doing. She not only takes amazing photos of the various athletes around Otterbein, she is simply talented.

And lastly, a thanks to Anna Schiffbauer, the business manager. She fed all our stomachs and despite giving me giant ads, my roommates and I love her food-ordering skills. I guess I will acknowledge your fine budgeting skills as well ... I guess.

I went through all that so you can know what I am leaving behind. They are not only talented, but they each taught me something I never knew and helped shaped my path.

I need to also thank Dr. Warren for pushing me to become a writer, and our adviser, Mike Wagner, for making the sports section have variety.

If I didn’t mention you and you feel like you need a thanks, I will be around ’til May. t&c JORDAN LABATTE IS A SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR AND THE SPORTS EDITOR FOR THE t&c.

opinion

wednesday, nov. 9, 2011

Give the HPV vaccine a shot After getting the jab, sophomore encourages others to do the same

The HPV vaccine is better known in England as the cervical cancer jab. According to Cancer Research UK, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under 35. There are around 40 types of HPV that affect the genital JO area and over 100 SPENCER types of HPV around the body.

I remember the vaccine for HPV, or the human papillomavirus, first being introduced to school students back in 2008 for 13-17 year olds. It will be most effective when given to those who are not yet sexually active, but the health service still decided to give it to anyone who was not pregnant (as it may cause deformities in an unborn baby) or has a sexually transmitted infection already. For the vaccine to work best, pre-existing STIs need to be treated before it’s administered.

The first time I heard about it, I was given a pink leaflet, like the ones on breast cancer, and a sheet to ask my parents’ permission (anyone under the age of consent needs permission) for the set of three jabs to be injected over the course of the academic year.

Personally, I made this decision on my own, with no influence from my parents. It was down to pure facts and that the vaccine was being offered for free at my school.

In the queue to the hall where they gave you the vaccine, there was a sullen silence; we all knew what was behind that door.

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Letter to the editor

To the Editor: I enjoy reading the Tan & Cardinal every week. The reporting is good and the stories you choose appeal to your readers. I was, however, taken aback by the story on page 10, “Ohio plays the blame game.” The article was interesting, and I liked the mys-

sanoFi pasteur/FliCkr

pins and needles:

In the United States, 12,000 women are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die from this disease.

Nurse practitioners sat at tables with rows and rows of needles, and girls sat next to them, looks of horror or lulling passiveness on their faces. At that point I was ready to walk out, not knowing how I felt anymore about needles, having always hated them in the past.

The vaccine is now becoming available for boys, too.

Boys can contract HPV as they are able to get STIs. The vaccine can help to prevent abnormal mucosa (moist membranes that line the body) growth in the mouth, neck and anus, and stop skin and genital warts, which boys as well as girls can contract.

These are the main reasons why the American health services are starting to offer the vaccine for both boys and girls, mostly for those who are not yet sexually active as it will be most effective for preventing different tery of “who is to blame,” which drew me into the story. I was, however, deeply offended and saddened when you referred to the owner of the farm as “a deranged hillbilly.” Does the word “hillbilly” refer to all people who choose to live in the country, or is it just a reference to those people who reside in Zanesville?

I think it is offensive for you to use derogatory names for people who choose to live differently from you.

I noticed that you never called the owner of the farm by his

kinds of cancers. The vaccine is also offered to those who are sexually active, but would still like the vaccine.

The needles may freak you out, and the topics of cancer or STIs may embarrass you and be a taboo subject, but I think that cancer in the future or an STI would be scarier.

This vaccine is not one to be ignored. Your arm may ache for a few days afterward and you may not feel like writing, or when someone brushes past you, you might want to jump away from them, but all will be worth it in the end.

The short-term effects will be annoying, but the long-term effects could be lifesaving. t&c

JO SPENCER IS A SOPHOMORE THEATRE AND MEDIA MAJOR AND A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE

t&c.

name, Terry Thompson. You referred to him as “he” and “a suicidal owner in Zanesville,” as well as by the derogatory name “deranged hillbilly.” I don’t agree with what Thompson did, but he was apparently so disturbed that he chose to end his life. How terribly sad for him and his wife who remains, as well as for the innocent animals that had to die.

Sincerely, Diane Wootton Academic Administrative Assistant Communication Department

sports 7 Turf becoming a leading solution to the fields www.otterbein360.com

vol. 93, issue 11

Otterbein is looking to field turf as the solution to the run-down, heavily used grassy athletic surfaces

BY JORDAN LABATTE Sports Editor

Uptown Shops

Otterbein remains one of the two schools in the Ohio Athletic Conference that still plays on natural grass along with Ohio Northern University. But for how much longer?

Field turf has been a topic of discussion among Otterbein personnel.

“I have been trying to get it going for a couple years,” athletic director and men’s basketball head coach Dick Reynolds said.

Otterbein is slowly becoming landlocked, making it difficult to produce alternative areas for teams to practice and to give fields time to rest.

“Just shortage of fields and weather limits it even more,” Reynolds said. “So like so many high schools and so many colleges, we are looking to alternative places so we can practice and get more utilization, particularly during the inclement weather.”

For example, the soccer field has a remote location, hidden behind homes and shaded by trees, but the far right corner of both goalkeeper boxes is a swamp after an evening of rain, making it a difficult playing service.

Reynolds said that there is no detailed plan for the project, but it’s moving forward. So what and where are the possibilities that turf could bring to Otterbein?

The first possibility is the most obvious, which is reconstructing Memorial Stadium to make it playable for all Otterbein sports, but it would mean an expansion.

“The track has got to be moved,” Reynolds said. “It’s got to be widened. The lanes got to go out. The seats on the visitor side have to be moved.”

The options that turf presents are more than just an answer to difficult field conditions.

“The biggest thing is serviceability. To accommodate our teams, to accommodate our practice times and our game times,” Reynolds said. “But there is something to be said because a lot of kids come to us from facilities that are pretty nice because of the local booster clubs and things like that, and coming to college they expect more sometimes.”

Freshman allied health major Jared Alcorn said, “I think it would be good. It would stay in shape and would be a good long-

green grass:

photo by kristen sapp

With multiple sports played on grass surfaces, both game and practice fields become run down.

term investment since we could then make money from hosting tournaments.”

The implementation of turf and the process for the project to become formal relies heavily on donations.

“The length of the process depends on a couple things,” said Mike Griffin, the advancement resources research analyst at Otterbein. “One, we have to do all the planning in terms of engineers need to come out and design … so all that planning process needs to take place.

Second part of the process is

Gallery 202, Partners in Art, Inc. Gallery 202 is a community arts center located in Uptown offering a variety of classes, exhibits, call for entries and events for the public and for artists of all ages. Located on the second floor, the main gallery is an unique place to hold exhibits, special events and classes. Our smaller location is perfect for intimate parties and meetings. For more information: www.gallery202online.com Gallery 202 is also the sponsor for the Uptown Enews and Website – www.uptownmerchants.com For information or to be included on our enews mailing simply email programs@gallery202online.com or call 614890-8202. Learn all you can about events in Uptown!

in terms of the funding of the project. So you would have to have donors come forward, and depending on their ability to give over a certain period of time is how long that’s going to take.”

Griffin said this type of project is not on a similar scale to a new dormitory, where millions of dollars must be obtained, but does depend heavily on the ability to raise money, which can determine the plan’s approval.

“We are actively working on the feasibility of it all,” Griffin said. “I do think … there is always potential for that to hap-

pen, we do have a strong donor base, athletics and the “O” Club have been very good, so when you have already that contingency that’s existing, it makes it easier to go out and try to raise money for something like this.”

No formal plan exists as of now. Reynolds has met with several different companies who have given estimates, but until the money is available, no details will be formed and released.

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sports

Tan & Cardinal

photo by kristen sapp

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on the line:

Volleyball will face 14th-ranked Hope College on Nov. 10.

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wednesday, nov. 9, 2011

Cardinals get an at-large bid Volleyball will face Hope College in its second NCAA run

BY DOM PORRETTA Staff Writer

The women’s volleyball team earned postseason accolades and a postseason berth all in the same day.

Otterbein earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament Nov. 7 right after the Ohio Athletic Conference ofďŹ ce announced that ďŹ ve Cardinals earned All-OAC honors.

The Cardinals (26-5) will head to the Calvin Regional tournament in Michigan, which is hosted by the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Calvin College Knights and will take place Thursday-Saturday.

The team will face No. 14 Hope College Thursday in the ďŹ rst round and if victorious, the Cards will advance to face the winner of the Calvin-St. Norbert match in a regional semiďŹ nal.

No. 9 Heidelberg, No. 5 Wittenberg, Geneva and RoseHulman will also be competing in Michigan. “It’s deďŹ nitely no secret that we have the toughest regional of all of the eight (regionals),â€? head coach Monica McDonald said. “The good news is I like our ďŹ rst-round match-up. I think it’s going to be a great game; I think we’re two evenly matched teams. “Being that they’re No. 14 in

the country, I think that would be a really good win for us starting off,� she said.

Though the Cardinals have their work cut out for them at the regional, McDonald doesn’t mind playing underdog. “I kind of like that Hope is No. 14 in the country because now we’re back to being the underdog, and usually we play pretty well when we feel we have nothing to lose, and I deďŹ nitely believe that we have nothing to lose going up there against Hope,â€? McDonald said.

The Cards will be making their second-ever tournament appearance after bowing out to Calvin, 3-0, last year. “It was our goal to get to this point, so any win on top of this is just icing on the cake,� senior defensive specialist Renee Willke said. “We’re all so pumped about it and we are ready. It’s go time; this is everything that we’ve been working towards all season.�

The Cardinals earned the berth after falling to third-seeded Mount Union, 3-1, as the second seed in the OAC Tournament semiďŹ nals Nov. 4, which proved to be the team’s ďŹ rst loss since Sep. 24. “I think we just came out a little bit at, came out a little bit tentative,â€? McDonald said.

“Even in talking with some of the girls, there was some nervousness there once we got down to a team that we felt we were better than and a team that we had beaten the week previously pretty handily.�

Willke said that the Purple Raiders came to play. “At this point in the season, you have to bring everything you’ve got because all you’re going to be faced with are really good teams,� she said.

Adding to the postseason excitement, setter Tabatha Piper earned OAC Freshman of the Year honors and senior Lindsey Russell earned OAC Witte-Zicha Libero of the Year. Russell also earned ďŹ rst-team All-OAC honors along with junior middle hitter Ally Nagle. Piper was voted second-team All-OAC as well as junior outside hitter Kristen Bennett. Sophomore middle blocker Liz Palmer earned honorable mention. “I’m very, very happy the way the postseason awards turned out,â€? McDonald said. “The only way you can receive All-Conference awards is to show consistency throughout the year, and that’s deďŹ nitely something I’ve been very pleased with.â€?

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