With a relatively small roster, it is imperative for each player to contribute immediately in a collegiate volleyball program.

Entering the season with eight freshmen on the 13-woman roster, the John Carroll University volleyball team needed to quickly adapt to playing at a high level of competition in a collegiate setting and piece together a consistent rotation.

Overcoming injuries to several key players the "Streaky Streaks", a nickname given to the unit by second-year head coach Laura Rodeffer, the Blue Streaks answered the call and will be making their first appearance in the OAC Tournament since the 2010 campaign with its 7 p.m. match at 17th-ranked Otterbein University on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

With a 19-10 record on the season, John Carroll has notched the most victories since the 2001 team finished its season at 21-10.

Having an extremely young team on the court JCU opened the season in dominating fashion winning the Scranton Invitational by not dropping a single set. A week later the Blue Streaks knocked off previously-unbeaten Westminster College during the Marcia French Memorial Tournament.

Sitting with a record of 5-5 John Carroll rattled off wins in seven of its next eight matches including avenging losses to Case Western Reserve and Carnegie Mellon earlier in the season to enter conference play with a lot of upswing.

After dropping its OAC opener against Otterbein, the Blue Streaks found full-stride winning six of their next seven matches including a pivotal conference tilt against Baldwin Wallace which all but clinched an official berth in this week's conference tournament.

Backed by key contributions from numerous players, the volleyball team has been a difficult read for the opposition.

The defense, in the capable hands of Sara Kaminski has kept numerous long rallies alive for the Blue Streaks this year. Kaminski, a sophomore, set the John Carroll single-season digs record against Ohio Northern and ranks eighth nationally with 6.07 digs per set in matches through Oct. 27.

Aggressive serving has also played dividends for John Carroll this season as the Blue Streaks lead the OAC in aces per set. Individually freshman setter Kit O'Shaughnessy leads the conference with 0.53 aces per set. O'Shaughnessy has played a key role in JCU's rapid turnaround. The freshman has notched two triple-doubles and 13 double-doubles on the season providing another versatile attack option for the Blue Streaks. She is also second in the OAC in assists per set.

A balanced offensive attack has been the key for John Carroll this season. Without a consistent No. 1 option four Blue Streaks each average over two kills per set. Sarah Orlandi leads the quartet with 2.65 kills per frame on a team-best .298 attack percentage. Leah Switalski, who made the switch from middle hitter to outside hitter with the injury to Jessica Kodrich, averages 2.44 kills per set with an average of 9.5 per match against OAC competition.

Standing in John Carroll's way of making its first appearance in the OAC semifinals since 2001 is Otterbein.

The Cardinals went 25-6 in the regular season and enter having won their last seven matches. The two teams squared off in the OAC opener with Otterbein taking the tightly contested match in three sets.

Annie Juenger paces the Cardinal attack with a conference-best 3.89 kills per set. Kim Barker provides the balance with 2.21 kills per set on a .345 hitting percentage which ranks second in the conference.

Defensively Emily Caldwell leads Otterbein with 4.35 digs per frame.

Otterbein will provide live video and live statistics of the match.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 62-years and older, $2 for children and free for OAC students with their student identification card. Holders of OAC lifetime passes also enjoy complimentary admission while OAC regular-season passes are not honored at tournaments.