September 26, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team traveled to The College of Mount St. Joseph on Tuesday, Sept. 26, for its 2006 Heartland Conference opener. Errors and inexperience proved too much to overcome as the Lions, whose only losses this year have been to nationally ranked teams, took the contest in four games by scores of 30-22, 26-30, 30-12 and 30-20. Following the defeat, Bluffton stands at 5-12, 0-1 in the HCAC while MSJ improved to 9-4, 1-0 in the conference.
In the opener, the Beavers jumped on top 5-1 to start the game. They were still within striking distance, down 17-15, when attacking errors allowed the Lions to effectively put the game away with a 10-2 run, putting Bluffton in a 27-17 hole. JORDAN SCIFRES (Greenwood, Ind./Lutheran) knocked down two kills late in the set, but the Beavers found themselves on the wrong end of a 30-22 score in the first game.
To start the second game, Bluffton used strong serving by seniors BRITTANY SHULTZ(Hudson, Ind/Prairie Heights) and KATIE MOORE (Bucyrus/Wynford) to build a 15-6 cushion. The Beavers were still on top, 20-11, when MSJ picked up its intensity and trimmed the deficit to two points, 22-20, thanks to the serving of KATIE FELDKAMP and Bluffton errors at the net. After regrouping, Bluffton knotted the match at one game apiece with the 30-26 victory.
The Mount showed its strength in game three as it capitalized on atttacking errors and the serving of JULIE SCHUMACHER to dominate the Beavers, 30-12, and take a 2-1 lead in the best of five format.
Through the first 34 points of game four, the Beavers held their own as they led 18-16 midway through the game. A series of attacking errors allowed the Lions to turn the tide. MSJ went on a 14-2 run to finish the game with a 30-20 victory and the match with a 3-1 win.
Scifres led the Beavers with nine kills from the outside. Defensively, CHELSEA WYSE(Archbold/Archbold) and BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay/Findlay) chipped in with 12 digs apiece. Shultz picked up 34 assists and three aces in the loss. RACHEL ALVAREZ (Convoy/Crestview) and AUDRA COLEMAN (Lima/Central Catholic) both finished the match with three block assists.
A negative hitting percentage led to the Beavers undoing as The Mount hit .213 with exacly half the errors that Bluffton accumulated, 22 to 44.
The Beavers get right back into action on Thursday, Sept. 28, when they host Siena Heights University in their home opener at 7 p.m.