national team honors United States National Team 1997-2000...Laura Davis 1997-99...Jenny Jackson 2002-03... Jen Flynn UNITED STATES A-2 TEAM 2006... Ami Stevens United States B Team 1990... Holly O Leary 1993...Laura Davis 1998...Dana Stearns United States Junior National Team 1999... Katie Virtue 2003...Danielle Meyer 2004... Nicole Britenriker 2004-05... Ami Stevens World University Games 1987... Kristi Neuman 1993...Laura Davis 1995...Laura Davis 1999... Jen Flynn United States Olympic Festival 1978...DiAnn Gorham 1982...Jenny Collins 1983... Lisa Bettio Kristi Neuman 1986...Margie Meyers 1989... Holly O Leary Leisa Wissler 1990...Erika Schlitz 1991...Leisa Wissler 1993...Jenny Jackson Ashley Mullis 1994...Sara Daniel Laura Davis Jenny Jackson Jen Boleyn 1995...Jenny Jackson jenny jackson laura davis Canadian National Team 1979...Mary Ormsby 1991... Audrey DiPronio 1992... Audrey DiPronio Tricia Stragliotto 1997...Gabriele Jobst 2006...Stacey Gordon Canadian Junior National Team 2000...Stacey Gordon 110
Audrey DiPronio was a two-time member of the Canadian National Team. Gabrielle Jobst competed for the Canadian National Team in 1997. Tricia Stragliotto was a 1992 member of the Canadian National Team. Katie Virtue is currently a member of the USA National Team. Jim Stone coached the 1999 U.S. World University Games team. Stacey Gordon, a former member of the Canadian National Team, is now playing in Europe. Jen Flynn was the starting setter for the 2002 USA World Championships, winning a silver medal. Leisa Wissler competed twice at United States Olympic Festival. O h i o S t a t e B u c k e y e s. c o m 111 111
big ten honors Ohio State In The Big Ten Conference Year W-L Pct. Place Home Away Big Ten Champion 2009 12-8.600 4th-tie 7-3 5-5 Penn State 2008 3-17.150 10th 1-9 2-8 Penn State 2007 7-13.350 9th 4-6 3-7 Penn State 2006 13-7.650 4th 9-1 4-6 Penn State 2005 14-6.700 3rd-tie 6-4 8-2 Penn State 2004 17-3.850 2nd-tie 9-1 8-2 Penn State 2003 5-15.250 9th-tie 3-7 2-8 Penn State 2002 13-7.650 4th 8-2 5-5 Minnesota 2001 17-3.850 2nd 8-2 9-1 Wisconsin 2000 & 0-20.000 11th 0-10 0-10 Wisconsin 1999 % 1-19.050 11th 0-10 1-9 Penn State 1998 9-11.450 5th 6-4 3-7 Penn State 1997 13-7.650 3rd 7-3 6-4 Penn State, Wisconsin 1996 15-5.750 3rd 9-1 6-4 Penn State, Michigan State 1995 16-4.800 2nd 7-3 9-1 Michigan State 1994 19-1.950 1st 10-0 9-1 Ohio State 1993 17-3.850 2nd 10-0 7-3 Penn State 1992 14-6.700 3rd 8-2 6-4 Illinois, Penn State 1991 20-0 1.000 1st 10-0 10-0 Ohio State 1990 15-3.833 2nd 8-1 7-2 Wisconsin 1989 16-2.889 1st 9-0 7-2 Ohio State 1988 8-10.444 7th 5-4 3-6 Illinois 1887 7-11.388 8th 6-3 1-8 Illinois 1986 11-7.611 4th 7-2 4-5 Illinois 1985 12-6.667 3rd 6-3 6-3 Purdue 1984 9-4.692 SF 5-1 4-3 *Northwestern 1983 9-4.692 SF 6-1 3-3 *Northwestern Total 300-194.607-167-80 133-114 *Conference Tournament % Record reflects forfeit of nine matches; & Record reflects forfeit of 14 matches Big Ten CHAMPIONSHIP WON OR SHARED TEAM WON SHARED TOTAL Penn State 11 2 13 Illinois 4 0 4 Wisconsin 3 1 4 Ohio State 3 0 3 Northwestern 2 0 2 Michigan State 1 1 2 Purdue 1 0 1 112
dana stearns briana mccarthy Big Ten Championships Three...1989, 1991 and 1994 SIX Big Ten Players of the Year Holly O Leary...1989 Leisa Wissler...1991 Laura Davis...1994 Vanessa Wouters...1996 Stacey Gordon...2002, 04 Six Big Ten Freshmen of the Year Leisa Wissler...1988 Laura Davis...1991 Jenny Jackson...1992 Dana Stearns...1997 Katie Virtue...1999 Stacey Gordon...2001 seven Freshman All-Big Ten Team selections Katie Virtue...1999 Suzie Stiling...1999 Stacey Gordon...2001 Stephanie Higgins...2002 Briana McCarthy...2003 Ami Stevens...2004 Anna Szerszen...2006 Coach of the Year (as selected by the coaches) Jim Stone...1989, 1991, 2004 Coach of the Year (as selected by the media) Jim Stone...1989, 1991, 1994, 2004 62 All-Big Ten Selections 1983 Lisa Bettio... 1st team 1984 Lisa Bettio... 1st team 1985 Lisa Bettio... 1st team Kristi Neuman... 2nd team 1986 Kristi Neuman... 2nd team 1988 Holly O Leary... 2nd team 1989 Holly O Leary... 1st team Leisa Wissler... 1st team Audrey DiPronio... 1st team Lisa Vitali...HM 1990 Holly O Leary... 1st team Leisa Wissler... 1st team Audrey DiPronio... 2nd team 1991 Julie Chellevold... 1st team Leisa Wissler... 1st team Laura Davis... 1st team Carrie Leonard...HM Dawn McDougall...HM 1992 Gabriele Jobst... 1st team Laura Davis... 2nd team 1993 Laura Davis... 1st team Gabriele Jobst... 1st team Sara Daniel...HM Jenny Jackson...HM Tricia Stragliotto...HM 1994 Laura Davis... 1st team Jenny Jackson... 1st team Gabriele Jobst... 1st team Sherri Helman...HM Tricia Stragliotto...HM 1995 Jenny Jackson... 1st team Tricia Stragliotto... 1st team Jen Boleyn... 1st team Sherri Helman...HM 1996 Vanessa Wouters... 1st team Sherri Helman... 1st team Jen Boleyn...HM 1997 Vanessa Wouters... 1st team Jen Flynn...HM 1998 Rosie Snow... 1st team 1999 Jen Flynn... 1st team Rosie Snow...HM 2000 Katie Virtue... 1st team Suzie Stiling...HM 2001 Anne Botica... 1st team Stacey Gordon... 1st team Katie Virtue... 1st team Suzie Stiling...HM 2002 Stacey Gordon... 1st team Shelly Draeger...HM Suzie Stiling...HM Katie Virtue...HM 2003 Stacey Gordon... 1st team 2004 Stacey Gordon... 1st team Marisa Main... 1st team 2005 Marisa Main... 1st team Danielle Meyer... 1st team 2006 Marisa Main... 1st team Danielle Meyer... 1st team 2007 Danielle Meyer... 1st team 2008 Katie Dull...HM 2009 Katie Dull... 1st team O h i o S t a t e B u c k e y e s. c o m 113 113
big ten champions Ohio State has produced three Big Ten championship teams, including the 1991 squad which posted an unblemished 20-0 mark in Big Ten play and set the single-game Ohio State attendance record with 5,402 fans for a win over Purdue. 1994 Big Ten Champions The 1994 season proved to be an exciting one for the Buckeyes, winning the Big Ten Championship, advancing to the NCAA Championship semifinals and having two All-Americans, including the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year. Behind three four-year senior starters, OSU posted a 29-3 overall record, its best winning percentage (.906) in history and won a second Big Ten crown, posting a 19-1 mark. Only a loss to eventual NCAA champion Stanford in the national semifinals dampened the Buckeyes accomplishments. With the Big Ten crown came an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, OSU s sixth-consecutive appearance at this time. The Buckeyes received a No. 1 seed and were placed in the Northwest Regional to balance the bracket. With a first round bye, OSU opened play with a 3-0 win over Texas A&M at home. Long Beach State was named the host site for the Northwest Regional, with OSU facing Pacific in the semifinals. The Buckeyes took Pacific in four games and Long Beach State defeated Hawaii in five. That set up the championship match with OSU defeating the 49ers 3-1 for the second time in the season. The Long Beach State win earned OSU a spot in the NCAA National Semifinals against Stanford at the University of Texas- 1991 Big Ten Champions In 1991 the Buckeyes finished with a 30-4 overall record winning the Big Ten championship with a 20-0 mark and won a school record, 27-consecutive matches. Highlights of the Big Ten season included ending Penn State s regular season winning streak of 52 matches, and setting a school attendance record of 5,402 in a 3-1 defeat of Purdue. OSU received the automatic NCAA bid and defeated Pittsburgh 3-1 in the first round. The Buckeyes advanced to the Mideast Regional at Nebraska where they defeated Penn State 3-2 in the semifinals. OSU won the regional championship with a 3-1 win over seventh-ranked Nebraska. The Nebraska win advanced Ohio State to the National Semifinals against host UCLA. The Buckeyes could not stop Austin. The dream season came to an end with a 3-0 Cardinal win over the Buckeyes. Stanford then defeated UCLA 3-1 for the National Championship, becoming the third team in four years to defeat the Buckeyes in the tournament and then advance to the national crown. Numerous honors were bestowed on Ohio State at the end of the season. Laura Davis, Gabriele Jobst and Jenny Jackson were named to the all-big Ten squad and Sherri Helman and Tricia Stragliotto received honorable mention recognition. Davis was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and coach Jim Stone, the Conference Coach of the Year by the media. Davis, Jobst and Jackson were selected to the AVCA All-Midwest Region first team, with Davis being a four-time selection. Prior to the national semifinals, Davis and Jobst were selected AVCA first team All-Americans with Davis a Volleyball Magazine first team selection and Jobst a second team selection. Davis was then given the highest honor of all as she was named the Division I National Player of the Year by the AVCA. The Asics/Volleyball All-American squad had Davis, a first team selection; Jobst on the second team; and Jackson, an honorable mention selection. Davis was also named the Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year and the Big Ten-Suzy Favor Women s Athlete of the Year. powerful UCLA from advancing to the championship match with a 3-0 win. Postseason honors for Ohio State included Leisa Wissler as the Big Ten Player of the Year; Laura Davis as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Jim Stone as the Coach of the Year. Wissler, Davis and Julie Chellevold were first team all-big Ten selections, while Dawn McDougall and Carrie Leonard were honorable mention. Wissler, Davis and Chellevold were named to the first team of the AVCA Mideast All-Region squad and selected to the all-tournament team at the Mideast Regional. National honors included Wissler and Chellevold being named second team All-American by the AVCA. Stone was selected by the AVCA as the Mideast Region Coach of the Year and was later named by ASICS/Volleyball Monthly as its National Coach of the Year. 1989 Big Ten Champions The 1989 season proved to be a successful year for the Ohio State volleyball squad. The Buckeyes earned their first official Big Ten championship, made their first NCAA appearance and received numerous individual honors. Every match during the season was important, but conference wins over three-time defending champion Illinois and a come-from-behind victory over Iowa, paved the way for Ohio State to capture the Big Ten title. The Buckeyes received numerous honors for their championship season, including Holly O Leary being named the Big Ten Player of the Year and Jim Stone the Big Ten Coach of the Year. O Leary, Leisa Wissler and Audrey DiPronio were selected to the all-big Ten squad and Lisa Vitali was an honorable mention selection. The honors continued as the American Volleyball Coaches Association named Stone the Mideast Region Coach of the Year and selected O Leary and Wissler to the All-Mideast Region team and DiPronio to the second team. O Leary topped the player honors as she was named a second team AVCA All-American. Following the Big Ten championship, Ohio State received the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The Buckeyes hosted a first-round match against Iowa in St. John Arena, defeating the Hawkeyes 3-0 to advance to the Mideast Regional. The regional, played at Nebraska, was where OSU s season ended when it suffered a 3-1 loss to Illinois. Ohio State finished the season with a 27-7 overall record and a 16-2 mark in the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes, unranked at the beginning of the season, finished 10th in the NCAA poll and 15th in the AVCA ranking. 114
1994 Big Ten Champions Front Row: Jen Boleyn, Kirstine Jensen, Jenny Jackson, Carrie Leonard, Laura Davis, Gabriele Jobst, Sara Daniel, Tricia Stragliotto, Sherri Helman. Back Row: Jim Stone (Head Coach), Audrey DiPronio (Assistant Coach), Linda Grensing (Assistant Coach), Sheri Burkholder, Keri Byrne, Amy Slavik (Trainer), Jay Eastman (Graduate Assistant Coach), Scott Bird (Strength Coach), Brock Petrie (Graduate Assistant). 1991 Big Ten Champions Front Row: Tracy Endecavageh, Dawn McDougall, Leisa Wissler, Julie Chellevold, Erika Schlitz. Middle Row: Sara Daniel, Carrie Leonard, Gabriele Jobst, Laura Davis, Kim Ranft, Liáne Fenwick. Back Row: Holly O Leary (Administrative Assistant), Don Moxley (Sport Physiologist), Liang Yao (Assistant Coach), Steve Pickering (Assistant Coach), Bill Cooperrider (Assistant Coach), Jim Stone (Head Coach), Pam Riffel (Trainer). 1989 Big Ten Champions Front Row: Julie Chellevold, Erika Schlitz, Audrey DiPronio, Lisa Vitali, Lynn Johnson, Holly O Leary, Leisa Wissler, Dawn McDougall. Back Row: Liza Cormanick (Manager), Patty Lopez (Graduate Assistant Coach), Heidi Parsons, Aimee Achenbach, Tracy Endecavageh, Kristen Bauer, Jim Stone (Head Coach), Steve Pickering (Assistant Coach). O h i o S t a t e B u c k e y e s. c o m 115 115
Karen Alsbrook Played: 1977-79 Inducted: 1998 Karen Alsbrook-Smith led Ohio State to the Big Ten Championship in 1977 and second-place finishes in 1976, 1978 and 1979. The four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete was a member of the OAIAW state championship team in 1977 and was a first-team All-American in 1979. As a senior, Alsbrook-Smith received the Schottenstein Post- Graduate Scholarship. hall of fame Lisa Bettio Played: 1982-85 Inducted: 1996 Three-time All-Big Ten selection Lisa Bettio led the team in aces in 1983 and kills in 1984. A four-year starter and team leader, she was captain of the 1984 and 1985 teams. The 1985 team compiled a 27-11 overall record and finished third in the Big Ten with an 11-7 mark. Bettio closed out her career with a school record 207 career aces. She also set school records for average aces per game and average aces per season. Laura Davis Played: 1991-94 Inducted: 2000 Named national player of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 1994, Davis was a two-time first-team All-American. Other honors included being named All-Big Ten for four years and the 1994 Honda Award winner for volleyball. The OSU teams she played for went 104-22 and advanced to the school s first two NCAA national semifinals. She is the career leader in assists (5,483). VANESSA WOUTERS Played: 1996-97 Inducted: 2004 The 1993 Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year, Vanessa Wouters was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and the 1996 Big Ten Player of the Year. A first-team AVCA All-American in 1996, she set the OSU match record for kills with 45 at Iowa and was the Big Ten (7.41) and NCAA (6.43) statistical champion in kills per game. She was twice selected as the AVCA National Player of the Week. Stacey Gordon Played: 2001-04 Inducted: 2010 A four-time All-American, Stacey Gordon was named 2004 AVCA Co-National Player of the year and 2004 Asics/Volleyball Player of the Year. She still holds Ohio State career records for kills, kills per game, digs, points and points per game. The 16-time Big Ten Player of the Week is the Big Ten s all-time leader and ranks third in NCAA history with 2,978 kills and 7.08 kills per game. Gordon, a fourtime All-Big Ten honoree, was the 2001 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004. She was named Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year in 2002 and 2005. Gordon also did an excellent job in the classroom as she was a fourtime Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, five-time Dean s List student and was named Academic All-Big Ten three times. Mary Ormsby Played: 1977-80 Inducted: 1995 Mary Ormsby, a 1980 All-Big Ten selection, served as team captain in 1979 and as co-captain in 1980. She led Ohio State to three OAISW titles and the 1979 MAIAW regional championship. The 1979 team posted a school record 37 wins. The two-time OSU Scholar- Athlete was also a member of the Canadian National Team in 1981. After leaving Ohio State, Ormsby pursued a journalism career for The Toronto Star, Canada s largest newspaper. Leisa Wissler Played: 1988-91 Inducted: 2001 Leisa Wissler was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 1988. The talented middle blocker went on to be a three-time All-Big Ten pick and a consensus First-Team All-American as a senior. She led the Buckeyes to two Big Ten titles and three NCAA appearance. She was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Ohio State Athlete of the Year as a senior, when OSU advanced to the national semifinals. Gabriele Jobst Played: 1991-94 Inducted: 2005 A two-time All-American (1993-94) and a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (1992-94) Played on two NCAA national semifinal teams (1991, 1994) and a pair of Big Ten championship teams. Three-time Big Ten Player of the Week. A GTE Academic All- American in 1994, a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. She played professionally in Europe for six years. Holly O Leary Played: 1987-90 Inducted: 1999 The 1989 Big Ten Player of the Year helping OSU win the Big Ten Championship. A two-time All-Big Ten selection (1989 and 1990). Second-team All-American in 1989 and third-team All-American in 1990. Named to the Big Ten second-team All-Decade Team. OSU Female Athlete of the Year in 1991. Led Ohio State to NCAA Tournament in 1989 and 1990. Audrey DiPronio Volleyball 1988-90 Inducted: 2005 An All-American in 1990 and a two-time All-Big Ten (1989-90) selection. Team captain in 1990 and a three-year starter as setter, 1988-90 A member of Ohio State s first Big Ten championship team in 1989. An assistant coach 1994-97, including for the 1994 team that won the Big Ten and advanced to the NCAA national semifinals. A member of Canadian National Team, 1992-93. 116
Mary Ormsby When I first arrived at The Ohio State University at the age of 17, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I didn t know a soul on campus, apart from meeting the coach once. Being a foreigner, I also was worried about fitting into the team and playing well. On top of that, I had left the familiar safety of my small high school to study at a huge university where you needed a map a map! to find your classroom. Through volleyball, I matured as a person and a player over the four years at OSU. More importantly, I made lifelong friends with whom I shared unforgettable moments of victory, sacrifice and personal achievement as the team proudly represented the Buckeyes across the United States. While the team was like a second family for me in Columbus, the OSU journalism school provided my second home. The journalism instructors were attentive and encouraging and it was clear that they wanted their students to succeed. One teacher went out of his way to place me in a summer sports reporting job at The Dayton Daily News in my senior year. My career as a sports reporter began immediately after I graduated, first in Dayton then up in my hometown of Toronto, where I work for Canada s largest daily newspaper, The Toronto Star. Ohio State gave me the opportunity to excel in volleyball as a student and provided me the tools to build an exciting career that has allowed me to stay in sports. I am a proud and grateful OSU alumna. Mary Ormsby was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995. Ohio State gave me the opportunity to excel in volleyball as a student and provided me the tools to build an exciting career that has allowed me to stay in sports. being a buckeye Doug Beal I have had a very great privilege to have been associated with The Ohio State University as a student, as a varsity athlete and as a head coach for the men s volleyball team. Ohio State was one of the only universities outside of Southern California to sponsor a varsity men s program at the time the NCAA began to conduct its national championship in 1970. It was extremely unusual for a major university in the Midwest to support a non-revenue sport like volleyball to the extent that they did, and particularly at such an early stage of the development of the sport in this country. The University has hosted the NCAA men s championships on three occasions, and both teams have competed at a very high level nationally. One can also measure the quality of the programs at Ohio State by the achievements of the graduated athletes, evidenced by the fact that three Ohio State players were members of the 1984 gold medal-winning Olympic men s team and that many women s players have in recent years achieved national recognition. I believe that the program at Ohio State, both athletically and academically, would meet the needs of a great many of the young people who desire to pursue excellence in volleyball and in their academics as well. There is no question that the years I spent in Columbus contributed tremendously to my growth, not only in the sport of volleyball, but also in my growth as a human being. The educational experience afforded by The Ohio State University was a major contributor to my realizing my full potential in the sport of volleyball. Doug Beal coached the men s volleyball program from 1972-74. He was the U.S. Olympic coach in 1996, winning the gold medal with three former Ohio State players. L-R: Marc Waldie, Aldis Berzins, Doug Beal and Richard Duwelius. I believe that the program at Ohio State, both athletically and academically, would meet the needs of a great many of the young people who desire to pursue excellence in volleyball and in their academics as well. O h i o S t a t e B u c k e y e s. c o m 117 117
Lisa Vitali I will always remember Ohio State as a place to grow and prepare for the real world. Whether on campus or on the volleyball court, OSU is filled with memorable experiences. My education at Ohio State started my career as a teacher. Even though the campus is large, never did I feel engulfed by it. The professors were ready to give extra help and there were always new friends to meet in my classes. My successful education was a solid base on which to build my collegiate volleyball career. Playing volleyball as a Buckeye was four years of ever-changing challenges and successes. The program taught me that self discipline, commitment and desire are the ingredients to success. Jim Stone taught my team the constancy it took to win the Big Ten Conference. Winning the Big Ten my senior year was a great finish for my career and a goal worth the wait. It was the perfect start for a program of winning teams at OSU. The staff at Ohio State is the driving force behind the winning teams. It starts with the professors who are willing to work with the athletes schedules. The athletic staff, from advisors to coaches, makes sure that classes are going smoothly. Academics always comes first at Ohio State volleyball. Ohio State is a university that upholds the standards of excellence in both academics and athletics. My four years with the volleyball program showed me how to succeed on the court and after graduation. It taught me how to work with others to accomplish my goals and that is what life is all about. My four years with the volleyball program showed me how to succeed on the court and after graduation. It taught me how to work with others to accomplish my goals and that is what life is all about. Holly O Leary When I made my decision to attend Ohio State, I could have never hoped for so much out of a university. My four years as a Buckeye were the most exciting and memorable years of my life. Competing at a national level against the top teams in the country was always important to me. Playing at Ohio State, in the Big Ten Conference, allowed me to do this. The competition was incredible. Every weekend we were battling it out across the net. Nothing was more satisfying than winning the Big Ten championship and being ranked in the top 10 in the country. I do not think I could have become the volleyball player I am today if it were not for the OSU coaching staff. The commitment given by the coaches to the players is never ending. Efforts are made every day to find new ways to better the program. Being a Buckeye has let me travel to places I know I would have never had the chance to see. From Hawaii to Paris, I have had the opportunity to meet new friends and experience new things. Not only does Ohio State offer the student an enormous range of educational opportunities, but it also has a large number of student organizations and programs that enhances student life. Not only does Ohio State offer the student an enormous range of educational opportunities, but it also has a large number of student organizations and programs that enhances student life. 118 (Left to right) Wade, Hannah, Libby, Holly, Patick
Leisa Wissler I did not know what to expect when I came to Ohio State. I knew it was a big university and highly reputable. Academically, it was always challenging. But I think that was good, because it keeps you interested in things. Athletically, it was everything I could hope for out of a program. I saw improvement from my freshman year to my senior year, both as an individual and as a team. I think that Jim (Stone) does a lot to push the players to get the full potential out of them. I think he did that with me. He could always challenge me to try new things and that kept it exciting. Playing at Ohio State was a lot of fun. I could not have asked for a better senior year. We accomplished our goals and went past the goals we set as a team. Being in the Final Four is something not many people get to do. For us to be able to do that, it is a great feeling. One of the good things about our team was that we always got along really well, on and off the court. Holly (O Leary), Audrey (DiPronio) and Lisa (Vitali), they were a huge part of the success of our program. We are all really good friends. The four seniors this year were really close, because when we came in, it was the start of everything that happened. As far as friendships go, I think we will stay close because we went through so much over our past four years. We have won the Big Ten twice and went to the Final Four. That was neat because it was our last year. It was a way for us to go out and leave our mark. I can see us being real supportive of the program, even though we are not in it anymore, and always keeping in touch with each other and the players that are I think that Jim (Stone) does a lot to push the players to get the full potential out of them. I think he did that with me. He could always challenge me to try new things and that kept it exciting. Playing at Ohio State was a lot of fun. The Rosen family: Mark, Cameron, Brady and Leisa. being a buckeye Laura Davis I came to Ohio State as a freshman with no expectations. As a volleyball player, I wanted to prove I could compete at a Division I level. As a student-athlete, I arrived in Columbus undecided about my future major. In the four years that followed, I found myself a part of an extremely successful program where I could grow as a player. Academically, I found a career that I loved in education. For a lot of people, I think that Ohio State can be intimidating because of its size. But I found the University to be a diverse community where I could mature as a person in my beliefs and values. My teammates, coaches and athletic support staff were a constant source of friendship, knowledge and guidance. As an alum, I know that the friends I have made at Ohio State will last my whole life. Being a Buckeye on the court and in the classroom has given me the tools I need in order to be successful in my future. The last line of Carmen Ohio sums up my feelings. How firm thy friendship, O - H - I - O. I will miss it. Go Bucks! As an alum, I know that the friends I have made at Ohio State will last my whole life. Being a Buckeye on the court and in the classroom has given me the tools I need in order to be successful in my future. (Left to right) Davis, Laura, Daly, Erik, Avery O h i o S t a t e B u c k e y e s. c o m 119 119