They are, from left, Jenny Knox, Hannah Fairbanks, Rachel Degen, Tara Carter, Lindsey Rudibaugh, Tara Smith, Laura Vasbinder and Cristen Herold.
nce of a Lifetime The group saw improvement in its second year, using their lone regular season loss to regroup and go on to win the conference title. They ended their 2008 season in New York as part of the NCAA Sweet 16, their first time playing on such a national stage. In walked Fairbanks during the summer of 2009. A Michigan native, Fairbanks had verbally committed to Otterbein as a high school senior but wound up at Division II Saginaw Valley State. After not having an enjoyable experience her first two years, she abruptly decided Westerville would be her next destination. “I had no idea what to expect and wasn’t sure if anyone would remember me, but I just wanted to go where I wanted to be in the first place,” Fairbanks said. “It was probably the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done.” Tara Carter (left) and Lindsey Rudibaugh embrace after their victory in the NCAA Sweet 16. O tte r b e in To w e r s | Sp r ing 2 0 11 |
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