October 3, 2007

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball ran into a talented Taylor squad on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, in Founders Hall and fell to the Lady Trojans in three straight games by scores of 30-17, 30-18 and 30-19. The Beavers showed grit and determination, but Taylor used its significant height advantage at the net to improve to 20-4 on the year.

Bluffton went toe-to-toe with its counterparts from Taylor in the early going as four KAYLA PICKERING (Jamestown/Greenview) kills helped the Beavers knot the score at 12 before seven consecutive JACKIE GEILE serves proved to be the difference in the game as the Trojans opened up a 19-12 advantage.

Senior RACHEL ALVAREZ (Convoy/Crestview) countered with a kill and ALYSSA SIMON (Carey/Vanlue) followed suit to cut the deficit to five points at 21-16. Bluffton managed only one more point in game one thanks to a Taylor ball handling error as the Trojans took the opener by a 30-17 count.

Taylor opened the second game with a 16-7 run, effectively taking the Beavers out of their rhythm. Back-to-back CRYSTAL AUGSBURGER kills trimmed the margin to 16-10 and when MICHELE ROSEN (Harrison/Harrison) followed with a spike the Trojans appeared to be in trouble.

EMILIE YORK and MOLLY LARKIN served three points each, putting Taylor up 27-17 before SHAUNA ROWLAND(Bucyrus/Wynford) slowed the onslaught with a kill. Rosen rifled an ace, but three straight Trojan points made the final score 30-18 in favor of the visitors.

A Rosen kill and a Taylor hitting error made the score 8-7 in favor of the Trojans early in game three. The highly-touted Trojans quelled the Bluffton uprising with a 13-2 jag, making the score 21-9. A pair of Alvarez kills late in the match closed the margin to 10 points, 29-19, before a Bluffton hitting error made the final score 30-19.

Pickering tallied a team-high eight kills and added nine digs for the Beavers. Rowland set up the Bluffton hitters with 15 assists while Wyse paced the home team with 10 digs. Chipping in with seven digs each were BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay/Findlay) and Rowland.

The Beavers travel to Franklin College and Rose-Hulman for two important Heartland Conference matches this weekend. Bluffton opens against the Grizzlies at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.

-BEAVERS-