November 13, 2009
By: Erin Neal, sports information assistant
HOLLAND, Mich. - The Bluffton University women's volleyball team saw its stellar record-breaking season come to an end Thursday afternoon, November 12 on the campus of Hope College in Holland, Michigan as they fell to the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern University in four sets in the NCAA Regional Quarterfinals. Despite a 25-20 first set surge over the Polar Bears that saw Bluffton finish with just one hitting error, the Beavers dropped the last three sets (25-23, 25-16, 25-17). It was the third time Bluffton squared off against Ohio Northern this season, and while the Beavers were able to dominate and take the first set, ONU rallied to take the last three sets each time.
Leading the way for the Beaver offense were NICOLE WOOD(Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) and JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) with 15 and 14 kills, respectively. Following Wood and Eshleman were junior ALLISON STREICHER (Continental) and sophomore HEATHER RODMAN (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) with seven kills apiece. Sophomore middle COURTNEY ZIMMERMAN (Leesburg/Fairfield) also contributed five kills.
SHAUNA ROWLAND (Bucyrus/Wynford) steered Bluffton's attack as she dished out 41 assists. The HCAC Most Valuable Player also locked in another double-double with her 17 digs. Leading the defensive efforts was senior libero
Brittany Roth with 29 digs. Eshleman, Streicher, and KAYLA PICKERING(Jamestown/Greenview) each had 14 digs in the effort. Rodman led at the net with six block assists while Streicher contributed three.
With the loss, the Beavers wrapped up one of the most successful campaigns in Bluffton volleyball history. They ended with a 27-6 record overall and advanced into the national NCAA tournament, on top of many other successful accolades leaving expectations high for the 2010 campaign. Making their final appearances in Beaver uniforms were seniors
Brittany Roth, Michele Rosen and
Brittany Duff.
-BEAVERS-