November 1, 2008
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team swept Lake Erie College and followed that up with a four-set victory over Coach Yarnell's alma mater, the University of Findlay, on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Bluffton improved to 19-9 on the year following its sixth straight victory while Findlay dropped to 12-19 overall.
Bluffton's 19 wins equal the 2000 squad for the most victories since the Beavers finished the 1998 campaign with a 23-15 mark. With the win over Findlay, Bluffton upped its mark to 40-9 against the Oilers, who along with Lake Erie, are NCAA Division II institutions. The Beavers have now won eight of their last nine matches, including three consecutive HCAC victories that vaulted Bluffton into the conference tournament for the first time since it went to a six-team format.
In Saturday's opener against Lake Erie College, freshman standout JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) led the Beaver front line with 15 kills, as well as having nine digs and one block. Fellow freshman outside hitter NICOLE WOOD (Tiffin/Hopewell Loudon) added nine spikes and two blocks. CHRISTIANA SINDELAR (Napoleon) slammed three blocks and tallied six kills for the Beavers.
Sophomore setter SHAUNA ROWLAND (Bucyrus/Wynford) tallied 39 assists and added five digs. BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay) led the Beavers with 12 digs and ALLISON STREICHER (Continental) chipped in with 10 digs.
The Beavers completed a perfect weekend with their third victory in less than 24 hours, avenging a loss to the Oilers at Findlay two years ago in Coach Yarnell's second year at the helm. The four sets were decided by a total of 10 points as Bluffton took the first two by two points apiece (26-24, 25-23) before dropping the third set 25-21 only to finish off Findlay with a 25-23 victory in the clincher.
Eshleman capped her weekend with a 24-kill, eight-dig performance against perennial Division II power Findlay, hitting at a fabulous .413 clip for the match. She also had a service ace and a block assist. Allison Streicher was up to the challenge as she drove home 11 kills and picked up five digs. Freshmen Wood and Sindelar added nine and seven spikes, respectively. Sindelar was in on six blocks, while Wood and HEATHER RODMAN (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) finished with three stuffs each.
Rowland equaled her career-high with five service aces and she just missed her all-time best with 43 assists. She picked up five digs and tallied two block assists. Roth led the Bluffton defense with 13 digs and she added an ace and two kills. Freshman MORGAN HICKS(Convoy/Crestview) smoked a pair of aces from the service line and KAYLA PICKERING (Jamestown/Greenview) chipped in with six digs.
The Beavers will wrap their regular season when they 'Fill Founders' for a showdown against Heartland Conference rival Defiance College on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m. in Founders Hall.