October 25, 2007
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team snapped its three-match losing skid with a 3-0 victory over Tri-State University on Thursday, October 25, 2007, in front of the Founders Hall faithful. The Beavers found themselves down by seven points in each of the first two games before turning the tables on Tri-State and putting away the Thunder in three straight games by scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-25.
Using an attack predicated on its strong blocking at the net, Tri-State jumped out to a 16-9 lead in the lidlifter. SHAUNA ROWLAND (Bucyrus/Wynford) slowed the Thunder with a kill and two points from the service line, including an ace and a KAYLA PICKERING (Jamestown/Greenview) spike. Pickering helped close the gap by serving two points which trimmed the deficit to 17-15 midway through game one. A pair of CHELSEA WYSE(Archbold/Archbold) aces gave the Beavers their first lead in the match, 21-19. With Tri-State knocking at the door, Pickering came through with three kills in a span of four points as Bluffton picked up a 30-27 victory in the opener.
Again in game two, Tri-State flexed its muscle at the net, blocking Bluffton's hitters repeatedly while opening up a 27-20 lead over the home team. RACHEL ALVAREZ (Convoy/Crestview) forced a side-out for the Beavers and KATE BARNETT (North Bloomfield/Lakeview) went to work at the service line. She rifled an ace before Alvarez and Pickering combined for five kills as the Beavers rolled off 10 unanswered points in another 30-27 win over the Thunder.
Bluffton kept Tri-State from running out to an early lead in game three as neither team was able to distance itself until Alvarez put together a couple points on serve for a 23-18 Bluffton lead. Trading side-outs for the rest of the game, Bluffton put the match away on yet another Pickering kill for the 30-25 game three victory.
Displaying her prowess at the net and in the back row, Pickering recorded her 13th double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 13 digs. Senior Rachel Alvarez pounded home 12 kills on only one error for an outlandish .524 hitting percentage. ALLISON STREICHER (Continental/Continental) and Rowland added seven and six kills, respectively, for the Beavers.
Wyse also notched her 13th career double-double and eighth of the season, picking up a team-high 22 digs to go along with her 19 assists. Rowland found the Bluffton hitters for 20 assists. Sophomore libero BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay/Findlay) chipped in with 19 digs and four service aces.
The Beavers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 27, when they travel to Earlham College. The match with the Quakers is slated to start at 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-