September 10, 2001


After dropping their first two matches of the Capital University Invitational over the weekend, the Bluffton College volleyball squad came back to win two of their final three games to claim fourth place in the tournament.

Senior Mandy Pequignot tied a BC record with 26 kills in a five-game loss to Heidelberg. The 5-10 outside hitter tied the record last season, as well, and shares the top spot with Teresa Runner (vs. Findlay in 1985) and Casey May (vs. Ohio Wesleyan in 1998).

The Beavers are now 4-6 overall this season and will travel to the Otterbein College Invitational this weekend in Westerville, Ohio.

BC met five different opponents in the Capital tourney, including this coming weekend's host, Otterbein, in the opening game. Bluffton won the second game of the match 30-28, but dropped three others to fall 3-1. BC then dropped its next match to host Capital in three games before getting back on track with a win over Wilmington in three games.

In their next match, BC led Heidelberg 2-0 but the 'Berg came back to win three straight games to claim the win. In the match to decide fourth place, Bluffton defeated Earlham in three games for their fourth win of the season.

Pequignot led BC in kills in every match of the invitational, including her record-tying effort against Heidelberg, as she racked up 74 kills in the five matches. Senior setter Erica Jellison collected 146 assists over the weekend and also led the team in service aces with 12.

Senior Lisa Rathburn led the team in digs over the weekend with 80, while senior Jamie Frisk was close behind with 73. Sophomore Erin Cooper collected 61 digs, Pequignot notched 59 and Jellison had 49.