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Beth Ellinger Head Coach Former two-time first-team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) honoree Beth Ellinger completed her fourth season as the head volleyball coach at Lynchburg College in 2009. The Hornets finished her first season with a 17-13 record and won eight matches in a row before the conference tournament. LC had two student-athletes named to the All-ODAC second-team. Lynchburg improved in Ellinger’s second season on the bench, winning 20 games and advancing into the ODAC Tournament second round for the first time in 10 years. In 2008, the Hornets finished with a 16-16 overall record and made the school’s first ever appearance in the ODAC Championship match as the seventh seed. The 2009 version of the Hornets boasted a 20-8 record and had an 8-2 record to place third in the ODAC. The eight wins in conference play is the most since the Hornets went 8-2 during 1999 and 2000. Ellinger, named to the All-ODAC first-teams in 2000 and 2001, was a first-team All-State selection in 2001 as well. She holds the school records for kills in a match (29), season (478 in 2001) and for a career (1,240 from 1998-2001). Ellinger also set the conference record for kills in a season in 2001. Ellinger returned to the program in 2004 and assisted head coach Dr. Marie Lewis for two seasons until Lewis’ retirement. She had also assisted at Heritage High School from 2002-04 and was the junior varsity coach. Ellinger is IMPACT certified and also currently serves as the Director of Coaching education and Recruiting for the club team TCA Virginia. She graduated in 2002 from Lynchburg with a B.A. in human development and learning and earned her Masters in Educational Leadership degree. 2009 Season Review The 2009 Lynchburg College volleyball team finished the season with a 20-8 overall record along with a 8-2 mark in the Old Do- minion Athletic Conference (ODAC). For the second time in three years the team boasted a 20-win campaign and made an appearance in the ODAC tournament. The Hornets started out the season strong record- ing six straight wins. Two of these wins came from exciting five-set matches at the Eastern Mennonite University Invitational. The squad managed to rally for the win over North Carolina Wesleyan College 25-20, 17-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10 in the day’s first match. Against Catholic University, the Hor- net’s relentless offense and defense proved unstoppable as they defeated the Cardinals 25-15, 27-25, 27-29, 24-26, 15-10. Even the lone ODAC team to make it to the NCAA Division III National Championship, Randolph-Macon College, was not able to get past LC. The Hornets defeated the Yellow Jackets in five games, and as a result were able to claim the possession of first place in the ODAC for a short time. After a heartbreaking five-set regular season ODAC match against Virginia Wes- leyan College late in the season did not go Lynchburg’s way, the team showed a never give up attitude and came back to defeat VWC in four sets in the quarterfinals of the ODAC tournament. Various team members were honored with a spot on the All-ODAC squad as a result of LC’s tremendous efforts this season. With four Lynchburg players named to the honor, the Hornets tied Randolph-Macon College for the most award winners on the first and second teams. Senior libero Savan- nah Tinsley, junior outside and middle hitter Michelle Boucher, sophomore outisde hitter Elena Kritter and freshman middle hitter Rebecca Loftis comprised four of the seven members of the second team. Tinsley, a graduating senior, will be greatly missed next year as she lead the conference with 499 digs and was second in digs per game, 5.04. She added 38 service aces and was one of three Hornets to play in all 99 games. Two valuable setters return to the fold next season in freshmen Brooke Moughon and Rachel Turk. Moughon had a team-high 544 assists while Turk also handed out 424. The duo combined to average 4.63 assists per set. Both graduating seniors will leave big shoes to fill. However, the 13 returning play- ers look to make up a young, yet experienced squad looking to claim an ODAC title in the 2010 season. Elena Kritter Michelle Boucher Rebecca Loftis Savannah Tinsley Brooke Moughon Jasmine Murphy 2009 Roster No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown 1/11 Savannah Tinsley DS/LIB Sr. 5-3 Lynchburg, VA 10 Kara Matthews DS So. 5-8 Richmond, VA 12 Alexis Foster S/DS Fr. 5-6 Franklin, VA 13 Brooke Moughon S Fr. 5-6 Mathews, VA 14 Chelsea Jones RS Sr. 5-10 Richmond, VA 15 Elena Kritter OH So. 5-9 Culpeper, VA 16 Michelle Boucher OH/MH Jr. 5-10 Chesapeake, VA 17 Molly Deacon DS/LIB Fr. 5-2 Roanoke, VA 18 Ashley Stokes MH/RS Jr. 5-11 Lynchburg, VA 19 Rachel Turk S Fr. 5-6 Salem, VA 20 Rachel Huffman MH Fr. 6-0 Virginia Beach, VA 22 Jasmine Murphy OH/DS Jr. 5-6 Shipman, VA 23 Mallory Stewart MH/RS Fr. 6-0 Collinsville, VA 24 Rebecca Loftis MH Fr. 6-0 Coventry, CT 25 Marion Lozano OH/MH Fr. 6-0 Manassas, VA Head Coach: Beth Ellinger Assistant Coaches: Dara Sandifer, Corri Pfister 2009 Lynchburg College Volleyball
