Posted: Sep 11, 2010
September 11, 2010
By: Erin Oberly, sports information assistant
GAMBIER, Ohio - In their second day of competition at the Kenyon College Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 11, the Bluffton University Beavers went on to take their first opponent, host Kenyon, in three sets, 25-15, 25-15, 25-20. Despite taking the first set, they were unable to pull out the victory against the Cardinals of Otterbein University, falling 25-27, 25-23, 25-14, 25-20. The Beavers now stand 9-1 overall.
In their match with Kenyon, senior SHAUNA ROWLAND(Bucyrus/Wynford) connected with the Bluffton hitters for 34 assists. Middle hitter COURTNEY ZIMMERMAN(Leesberg/Fairfield) led all attackers with nine kills, followed by fellow middle HEATHER RODMAN (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) with eight kills, sophomore HEATHER SCHIERER (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) also with eight kills, and senior ALLISON STREICHER (Continental) put down five kills.
Schierer led the team in digs with eight, followed by JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) with seven, and Rowland, Streicher, and junior MEGHAN DODSON (Tiffin/Calvert) rounded out the defensive effort with five digs each.
Against Otterbein, Bluffton was led by outside hitters Eshleman and NICOLE WOOD (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) who had 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Middle hitters Zimmerman and Rodman chipped in seven and six kills in the effort, while Rowland dished out 39 assists.
Schierer led the defensive backline with 12 digs, while Streicher added 11 digs of her own. Streicher, Zimmerman, freshman HAILEY PHILLIPS (Malinta/Patrick Henry) and senior MANDI LEEMASTER (Freemont/Old Fort) each had one ace while Rodman remained a force at the net with two solo blocks and five block assists.
The Beavers return to action this Tuesday, September 14, when they travel to rival Ohio Northern University for a non-conference match-up. Start time is slated for 7 p.m. in Ada, Ohio.
-BEAVERS-