The Bluffton College volleyball team opened their 2002 season last weekend at the Kalamazoo College Invitational and posted a 1-3 record to take sixth place at the Beavers' traditional season-opening event.

Freshman Keri Kuhlman, a 5-11 middle hitter, had an impressive collegiate debut as she led the Beavers in kills in every match and fashioned a stellar .330 hitting percentage. In four matches totaled 43 kills (2.9 avg.), 13 digs, 12 total blocks, five aces and two assists.

Bluffton, which just one senior and two juniors on the roster, fell to Denison 3-0 to start the tournament as the squad tasted their first action of the season. Kuhlman had nine kills and two blocks, while sophomore Erin Kreim collected six kills and a team-high 11 digs.

The Beavers came back to win their second game on Friday with a five-game victory over Lawrence. Kuhlman posted 17 kills and six blocks, while sophomore Courtney Tisher had 10 kills and a team-high eight blocks. Kreim produced 13 kills and five blocks, while sophomore Jill Rothe totaled 14 kills and 13 digs. Sophomore Erin Cooper, who collected 85 assists over the weekend, put up a career-high 39 assists in the match.

Host Kalamazoo handed Bluffton a three-game loss on Saturday despite eight kills each from Kuhlman and Kreim. The Beavers closed out the tournament with a four-game loss to Millikin that saw freshman Leslie Overmyer serve four aces and Kuhlman ring up nine kills. Kreim totaled 17 digs.

Bluffton travels to 16th ranked Ohio Northern on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. before heading to the Wooster College Invitational over the weekend.

-BEAVERS-