As the fall sports season nears its conclusion, Bluffton has much to celebrate – including volleyball's continuation into the NCAA regional tournament for the second straight year. The Beavers continue their postseason run vs. host Washington-St. Louis on Friday, Nov. 14.
Volleyball
For the second straight season, the Bluffton volleyball team (23-11) earned the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship at Defiance College. The Beavers took down the host Yellow Jackets 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21) to earn an invitation to the NCAA Midwest Regional tournament.
Sophomore MacKenzie McFarlin was named the 2014 HCAC MVP, with All-HCAC honors going to juniors Jenny Brown, Kendra Parmenter and Sara Roth.
The Beavers continue their postseason run vs. NCAA first-round host Washington-St. Louis at 9 p.m. Ohio time on Friday. Watch the action online at http://bearsports-livestats.wustl.edu/Volleyball/xlive.htm (stats) or http://portal.stretchinternet.com/wustl/ (video).
Football
The Bluffton University football team has grown by leaps and bounds following an 0-3 start to the season for new head coach Denny Dorrel. Four straight conference victories, including a 20-14 Homecoming victory over Hanover followed by a 31-17 win at Rose-Hulman over an Engineers outfit that led NCAA Division III in passing and total offense, have the Beavers in line for a top-three finish in the HCAC with one game to play, a Senior Day battle with rival Defiance on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Cross country
On the hilly, challenging course of Earlham College in cold and windy conditions, Bluffton's Jack Fisher left little doubt that he came to race in the HCAC Cross Country Championship. Making himself a member of the lead pack from the gun, Fisher cruised comfortably through the first mile and a half before making a decisive move up the signature hill of the course, gapping the field by several seconds. Through the remainder of the race, Fisher gradually put more distance between himself and his competitors to become Bluffton's first-ever Heartland Conference champion of either gender in a time of 25:51.
The Beavers are preparing for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship hosted by Wilmington College on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Kings Island Golf Resort.
Women's soccer
A pair of Bluffton University women in their first year of collegiate soccer have been named Honorable Mention All-Heartland Conference for their work on the pitch in 2014. Sophomore Terrill Webb and freshman Brittany Huff were both rewarded when the HCAC announced its top players this season. Huff led the team with three assists, and her 11 total points put her second on the scoring list behind Webb's 18 points. Senior Danielle McQuillin was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team from Bluffton.
Men's soccer
Bluffton's men's soccer team concluded the season 6-13, 3-6 HCAC. Bluffton is searching for a head women's soccer coach in preparation for hiring, for the first time, full-time head coaches for both its men's and women's programs. Rick Nussbaum—the current head coach of both Bluffton teams—has been invited to continue as the men's head coach.