November 2, 2007
ADRIAN, Mich. - The Bluffton University volleyball team fell at Siena Heights by a three games to one count on Thursday, November 1, bringing its 2007 campaign to a close. The Beavers ended their season with an 11-20 record overall and a 2-6 mark in the Heartland Conference while the Saints improved to 15-23.
Siena Heights rolled off the first five points in game one behind the serving of ASHLEY HUBBARD, who ended the night with a match-high 24 kills and .370 hitting percentage, and never looked back in the lidlifter. An ALLISON STREICHER (Continental/Continental) kill closed the gap to eight points, 18-10, but the Saints scored 12 of the next 13 points for a convincing 30-11 game one victory.
Midway through game two, the Beavers again found themselves in a sizable hole. Down by five, RACHEL ALVAREZ (Convoy/Crestview) served four straight points to trim the deficit to 15-14 as sophomoreMICHELE ROSEN (Harrison/Harrison), who was making just her second start since returning from an ankle injury, put down two kills. The Beavers were still down 25-22 when junior CHELSEA WYSE(Archbold/Archbold) took over and aced the Siena defense on consecutive serves to knot the score at 25. Rosen rifled three kills during the final five points of game two as the Beavers evened the match with a 30-27 win.
Game three saw the Beavers again struggle to keep pace with the Saints early on. Siena Heights built a nine-point cushion, 22-13, and held on despite the strong serving of BRITTANY DUFF(Wapakoneta/Wapakoneta) who pulled Bluffton within three points at 27-24. A block by Siena followed by a Hubbard spike ended the comeback hopes as the Saints took game three 30-25.
The final game of the year for the Beavers went back-and-forth until BRIANNA CHRENKO'S serving allowed Siena to open up a 25-18 lead over the visitors. Neither team was able to put together points late in the match as Siena took game four by a 30-22 score, giving the Saints a 3-1 victory over the Beavers on Senior Night at Siena Heights.
Leading the Beavers with her 16th double-double of the season was freshman KAYLA PICKERING (Jamestown/Greenview) who knocked down 18 kills (.385 hitting percentage) to go along with her 11 digs. Pickering ended the season with the best kills per game average ever for a Bluffton volleyball player (3.735 kills per game). Her 422 kills are the eighth best for a single season. Michele Rosen also smashed 18 kills for the Beavers while hitting .222 for the match. Freshman middle hitter CRYSTAL AUGSBURGER (Bowling Green/Bowling Green) chipped in with three blocks.
Setting up the Bluffton hitters was freshman SHAUNA ROWLAND(Bucyrus/Wynford) who finished with a career-high 45 assists against the Saints. BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay/Findlay) kept the Beavers in the match with her 25 digs. Also picking up double digits in digs was Chelsea Wyse who tallied a dozen. Wyse paced Bluffton with four service aces.
Bluffton finished its season with an 11-20 mark, including a 2-6 record in Heartland Conference action.
-BEAVERS-