The women’s fall sports season is underway, and each team is entering competition with renewed energy, new talent and high expectations.
From golf and volleyball to cross country and soccer, coaches and players alike are preparing for long seasons built on competition, growth and team culture.
This preview highlights conversations with student-athletes and coaches, as well as statistical insights, to provide an idea of what fans can expect this fall.
Women’s golf
The women’s golf team is entering the fall with an expanded roster. According to sophomore golfer Hannah Combs, the team now has eight members competing for the top five spots in each tournament, which has raised the level of intensity in practice.
“We have eight players so three have to sit, which creates competition,” Combs said.
In regards to their irate tournament this season, she said, “It’s a good building block. Emma [Konopa] shot in the low 80s, and most of us are in the 90s. We could win some tournaments.” The women’s golf team is starting off strong.
Head coach Andy Garcia echoed the team’s growth, noting that the squad has doubled in size compared to last year’s team of only four players. He praised returners like Emma Konopa and Camryn Mauter while emphasizing the potential of first-year players such as Paige Leyda and Michaela Sharkova.
“The strategy we try to focus on and implement is keeping an 18-hole score under 90 for numbers three through five, aiming for a total team score of 360,” Garcia said.
The coach also stressed how increased competition has created a stronger environment: “With now eight girls on the team and only a few qualifying for each match, you get a more competitive environment, which will benefit them in the long run.” It seems the girls will be going head to head at practice, making each rep count to fight for a spot on the course.
This year is already showing substantial improvements in scores. As long as the players continue to practice and show out, they will be one to watch.
Volleyball
Volleyball has opened its season with tough competition, including a co-hosted tournament with Otterbein University in honor of former coach Pam Briggs.
Head coach Rosanna Sguerra said the team had to overcome adversity in their opening weekend, battling through injuries and sickness that forced lineup changes.
Even with these challenges, the team secured a victory against Allegheny College, showing resilience. “If they can work with an unfamiliar lineup and function as a team, it shows the girls’ adversity,” Coach Sguerra said.
Senior libero Abby Bruner spoke about the team’s chemistry and preseason preparation. “The team dynamic has been really good so far. Since we are such a small group and have lots of returners, the connections throughout the team have been great, and the newcomers fit right in,”
She added that the challenging preseason schedule, including nationally ranked opponents, will help prepare them for conference play.
Coach Sguerra is also taking this approach and mentioning a tough preseason schedule to get them ready for what they will see, stating if they can compete with the best then they can beat Otterbein.
Statistically, the team has struggled with errors, with more attempts but fewer kills than opponents, and a high number of blocking errors; however, Bruner believes the defense is holding strong: “The libero is the leader on the floor, both emotionally and tactically. I feel my job is to help each player be their best during a match and to be the teammate everyone can lean to in stressful situations.”
Coach Sguerra also mentioned how her senior class pushes their teammates to be athletes and be flexible in the game.
These errors from last year do not reflect what they worked on to be better this year, their defense getting better and better each day. The team’s goal is clear: earn at least three conference wins to secure a spot in the conference tournament.
The head coach stated that “winning the serve and pass battle is the most important thing.”
Cross country
Cross country is entering the season with one of the largest rosters in years.
Head coach Ian Kellogg praised his team’s growth and leadership, especially after the challenges of last year, when only three women were healthy to compete.
“We have a heavy freshman team, but they show potential,” Kellogg said. “Four of the top five women placing in our first meet were freshmen.” He also highlighted standout performances, including Laney, who ran one of the eight fastest opening miles in school history, and junior Olivia Ellis, expected to return from injury and lead the team.
With 13 women on the roster, the team is aiming for the top of the conference. Kellogg’s long-term goal is to build a program deep enough to consistently contend for championships: “I want 20 girls on the women’s team and 25 guys on the men’s.”
“A bigger roster means better team culture, with girls pushing each other and leaning on each other.” He continues it seems the coaches perspective is: the bigger the better. The girls agree with this, seeming to like having more teammates to make a family.
This group of girls relies on summer training and running later in the fall with the track team to keep in shape and keep their numbers low. Their coach said he hopes they train all summer so that they can have a laid back training during the season. This worked for him in past years, and he hopes it works now.
In terms of beating the university’s long-term rival Otterbein and being one of the best in the league, Kellogg said that if we can keep up with them, we can win championships.
Soccer
Women’s soccer is coming off a (7–9–4) season in 2024 and looking to improve on both ends of the field. Last year, the team averaged 1.20 goals per game, nearly equal to their opponents, and finished with 24 total goals compared to their opponents’ 23 total goals.
Defensive play has been an area of concern, with fewer saves than opponents, and this year’s early statistics point in a similar direction. Through the first stretch of the season, the team has recorded about 28 saves, and if this trend continues, they will need to strengthen their defensive presence to avoid repeating last year’s struggles.
Despite the challenges, the team remains offensively productive, maintaining a shots-on-goal percentage of 45.2.452. If they can continue to pressure opponents offensively while bolstering their defense, the team has the foundation to improve on last season’s record.
This group of ladies seems strong; they just won against Hanover, winning the game 2-0 goals from Ava Spark and Taylor Duff. They now have a winning record for this season.
Recognizing tennis and bowling
Alongside golf, volleyball, cross country, and soccer, women’s tennis and bowling will also represent the university this fall. While their seasons often receive less coverage, these teams play an important role in the broader athletics program and deserve recognition for their commitment and contributions.
The women’s bowling team is to compete this upcoming week. They will hopefully bring some grit and competition to their matches.
The tennis team seems to always be working hard. This past weekend, their new head coach, Taylor Stanchin, had her first victory this season, the girls winning back-to-back matches. If they continue to bring this competition into the season, they will come out with a winning record.
Last Saturday, the women’s tennis team swept Wittenberg University and Franklin University.
From the golf course to the volleyball court, the cross country trails to the soccer field, women’s fall sports are already showcasing resilience, competition and growth. Coaches emphasize improvement, players highlight team chemistry, and statistics provide both challenges and opportunities.
While each team faces its own hurdles, they share a common thread: the determination to compete, improve, represent their program with pride and win the OAR.
