UNOH volleyball making a name

LIMA - First-year programs are usually not expected to have winning records.

But, don't tell that to the University of Northwestern Ohio's volleyball program.

So far in its inaugural campaign, UNOH is 18-6 and 5-1 in the American Mideast Conference. UNOH competes in Division II of the NAIA.

Head coach Kevin Kitchen said he isn't surprised at his team's strong start.

"I'm not totally surprised," Kitchen said. "I knew most of these kids when I recruited them and I know the kind of volleyball players they were. ... and the kind of personalities they have.

"I knew they would mesh well as a team and they would be able to compete at this level with a lot of success."

Kitchen knows the area well, as he coached at Piqua, New Knoxville and most recently at Lima Central Catholic, which is his alma mater.

Leading the way for the Racers is freshman Amanda Francis (Fairlawn). The 5-foot-8 outside-hitter has recorded 318 kills. Roshelle Watercutter (Edison State C.C.) is second on the team in kills with 303.

Meagan Enyart (Temple Christian) is currently third on the team in kills (204).

LCC product Chelsea Crow is seeing a great deal of action in her first season. She has played in 89 games for the Racers. Brooke Vandemark (Allen East) also has seen a lot of action for UNOH, playing in 88 games.

In the five games, Horn has caught 23 passes for 426 yards with four touchdowns.

Horn also has returned eight kickoffs for 182 yards (22.8 average).

Ashland is 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Most recently, Dickman led the Penguins with an 80th-place finish at the Notre Dame Asics Invitational. His time was 26:29 on the 8K course.

In mid-September, Dickman was named the Horizon League Cross Country athlete of the week on the men's side. Dickman earned that award with his 28th-place finish with a 5.2-mile time of 27:40 at the Spike Shoe Invitational at University Park, Pa., on Sept. 13.

As a sophomore at YSU, Dickman was second team all-league in cross country. He scored in five meets and was the squad's top finisher twice.

Schnelle was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week (Sept, 22-28). She had her best week of the season, recording 67 kills and a .535 hitting percentage. She was also named most valuable player of the Mount St. Joseph Invitational.

Schnelle, a third team AVCA All-American selection in 2007, is leading the Polar Bears (15-4) in kills (261 - 4.28 per game).

SCHNELLE NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Ohio Northern University junior Liz Schnelle (New Bremen) is having another stellar season for the ONU volleyball team.

DICKMAN EXCELS AT YSU:

Youngstown State University junior Justin Dickman (Van Wert) is leading the men's cross country team this season.

HORN DOING WELL AT AU:

Ashland University sophomore wide receiver Joe Horn (Waynesfield) is second on the team in receiving yards-per-game, averaging 85.2 yards-per- game.