October 7, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team held leads in all three sets, but nationally ranked Mt. St. Joseph put together late runs to stay perfect at 4-0 in the Heartland Conference with a 3-0 victory over the Beavers. Bluffton fell to 11-7 overall and 1-2 in the HCAC following its second consecutive conference setback.
Freshman JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) paced the visitors with 12 digs and nine kills, narrowly missing her seventh double-double. Outside hitter MICHELE ROSEN(Harrison/Harrison) added seven kills for the Beavers. Although she finished with just seven attacks on the night, freshman CHRISTIANA SINDELAR (Napoleon/Napoleon) pounded four kills on no errors for a .571 hitting percentage.
Sophomore setter SHAUNA ROWLAND (Bucyrus/Wynford) dished out 21 assists, while junior libero BRITTANY ROTH(Findlay/Findlay) chipped in 11 digs for Bluffton. Freshman MORGAN HICKS (Convoy/Crestview) rifled three aces against the 20th ranked Lions.
The Beavers ended the night with 30 kills, 15 errors and 103 total attempts for a .146 hitting percentage. MSJ used outstanding serving, especially late in each set, to keep their conference mark unblemished at 4-0 while improving to 19-5 overall.
Coach Yarnell commented, "We showed improvement following the loss at Anderson a week ago. A few errors late in each set allowed the Lions to pull away, but we showed tonight that we can play with one of the elite teams in the country. Now it is a matter of sealing the deal when the opportunity is there."
Bluffton travels to Hanover College for another Heartland Conference tussle on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. The match is slated to start at 11 a.m.