Posted: Nov 03, 2009
November 3, 2009
By: Erin Neal, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - It was a picture-perfect ending to a phenomenal regular season campaign by the Bluffton University Beaver volleyball team on Tuesday, November 3, in Founders Hall. The Beavers swept conference rival Defiance College in three straight sets, 25-15, 25-23 and 25-17. The win gave Bluffton outright ownership of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season crown, the first ever in Bluffton volleyball history. Likewise, because of their sensational efforts this season, the Beavers will play hosts to this year's HCAC tournament this weekend.
Before the opening serve, three Bluffton seniors were honored for the hard work and dedication to the Beaver volleyball program over the past four years. MICHELE ROSEN (Harrison), BRITTANY DUFF (Wapakoneta), and BRITTANY ROTH (Findlay) have each played an impeccable and irreplaceable role in the success of Beaver volleyball during their tenure.
Pacing the Beaver offense was the outside hitter duo of sophomores JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) and NICOLE WOOD (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon). Eshleman, who leads the team in kills for the season with 346, swatted 14 kills and Wood, second on the team in kills with 268, slammed down 10 kills of her own. Junior opposite ALLISON STREICHER (Continental) also had eight kills in the effort, followed by the tandem of sophomore middle hitters HEATHER RODMAN (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) and COURTNEY ZIMMERMAN (Leesburg/Fairfield) with seven and six kills, respectively. SHAUNA ROWLAND (Bucyrus/Wynford) conducted the offense with 37 assists and she also dished out two service aces
Rowland and Eshleman led the defense with 11 digs apiece, while sophomore MANDI LEEMASTER (Fremont/Old Fort) chipped in 10 digs. Roth, who was honored for her recent ascent to the top of Bluffton's all-time digs list, also scooped up nine digs in the victory.
Bluffton will now gear up to host its first ever Heartland Conference automatic qualifying tournament this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, in Founders Hall. Check the Bluffton University Volleyball Webpage for updates on the HCAC tournament, including brackets and match times, on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
-BEAVERS-