Posted: Sep 06, 2009
September 6, 2009
By: Erin Neal, sports information assistant
RIVER FOREST, Ill. - In two hard-fought battles on the court Saturday morning, the Bluffton University Beavers fell to both Hamline University (25-20, 25-27, 25-20, 17-25, 17-15) and Clarke College (20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 11-25, 15-13). Each match went into a decisive fifth set, but the Beavers were unable to finish off the clinchers. This rounded out their play at the Dominican University Tournament and left them at 2-2 after their first weekend of play this season.
After a quiet start against Hamline, the Beavers came back and won an intense second set against the Pipers. It was during that set that Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) lit up the offensive attack with six kills. The Beavers went on to drop the third set, win the fourth, and lose a tough final set. Despite the loss, the Beavers served up 10 aces and knocked down a combined 63 kills.
Leading the offense were Zimmerman and Jenna Eshleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield), each with 19 kills apiece, junior opposite hitter Allison Streicher (Continental) with 13, senior Michele Rosen (Harrison) with four kills, newcomer Brooke Distel (Carey) with three, and Brittany Roth (Findlay), Shauna Rowland (Bucyrus/Wynford), Kayla Pickering (Jamestown/Greenview), Nicole Wood (Tiffin/Hopewell Loudon), and Trenna Marcum (Tiro/Buckeye Central) with one kill apiece. Rowland also dished out 56 assists.
On defense, Roth had an impressive effort by leading the team in digs with 32. Eshleman and Streicher rounded out their performances with 18 and 15 digs, respectively. Rowland also had 10 digs, while Pickering added 13.
The Beavers then took on the Clarke College Crusaders from Dubuque, Iowa. Once again, several Beavers contributed well-rounded performances. Eshleman, who was named to Dominican University Stars All-Tournament Team, led the offensive attack with 19 kills and had 13 digs, closely followed by Streicher with 17 kills and 14 digs. Rowland contributed with 21 digs and 47 assists. Rounding out the offensive efforts were Zimmerman with seven kills, Rosen with five, and Marcum with four.
Roth once again led the defense with 24 digs, Distel picked up five digs, Pickering had seven, and Rosen finished with three. The Beavers also had another impressive serving performance as they rifled eight aces.
With their first weekend of play behind them, the Beavers now look forward to their home opener this Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 PM in Founders Hall against Ohio Wesleyan University.
-BEAVERS-