Posted: Sep 23, 2009
September 23, 2009
By: Erin Neal, sports information assistant
OBERLIN, Ohio -The Bluffton University women's volleyball team put themselves back on the winning track last night as they travelled to Oberlin College to take down the Yeowomen in five sets, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17, 21-25, 15-8. With the win, the Beavers are now sitting at 8-3 overall.
The Beavers rolled to victory despite coming from behind to take the lidlifter by a 25-23 count. After dropping the second set, the Beavers rallied back to take the third set 25-17, anchored by a 10-point serving spree from junior KAYLA PICKERING(Jamestown/Greenview) which included two service aces. The Beavers then lost a hard-fought fourth set, but eventually recovered to pull out a victory in the decisive fifth set.
Leading the offensive attack was last week's HCAC Player of the Week, sophomore NICOLE WOOD (Tiffin/Hopewell Loudon). She pounded down 17 kills, resulting in a .195 hitting percentage for the evening. Following Wood were JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) with 12 kills, and COURTNEY ZIMMERMAN(Leesburg/Fairfield) and ALLISON STREICHER (Continental), each with seven. Junior setter SHAUNA ROWLAND (Bucyrus/Wynford) directed the offensive efforts with her 43 assists.
Defensively, the Beavers were led by senior libero BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay) who had 35 digs on the night. Eshleman also rounded out her fifth double-double of the season with 20 digs. Rowland picked up 15 digs and Pickering contributed 12 digs to go along with her three service aces. Sophomore HEATHER RODMAN(Mansfield/Christian) proved to be another defensive force as she stuffed down seven blocks.
The Beavers return to action this weekend as they head to conference rival Mt. St. Joseph where they will meet up with OAC members Baldwin-Wallace, Otterbein, Ohio Northern, and Marietta. Their first match is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. This is also Bluffton's last tournament before the Beavers head into conference play next Friday, October 2, when the Lions come to Founders Hall.
-BEAVERS-