Despite a slow start again St. Thomas, the Beavers bounced back to put up a tough fight against the Tommies. Junior NICOLE WOOD(Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) led the team in kills with 11. Fellow junior COURTNEY ZIMMERMAN (Leesberg/Fairfield) followed closely with seven kills of her own. SHAUNA ROWLAND(Bucyrus/Wynford) directed the offense with 30 assists.

 

Defensively, the Beavers were led at the net by Zimmerman and sophomore BROOKE DISTEL (Carey), who each had one solo block and senior HEATHER RODMAN (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) who contributed three block assists. Sophomore libero HEATHER SCHIERER (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) led the Beaver backline with 17 digs, while senior ALLISON STREICHER(Continental) scooped up eight digs. Schierer also pounded out four service aces.

 

Against Luther, Wood again led the team in kills with 13, followed by Zimmerman with 11 kills and Rodman with nine kills. Rowland once again dished out a steady 44 assists to her attackers. Schierer slammed six service aces, a new match-high for the libero.

 

The Beavers proved to be a force at the net as Distel and Rowland contributed one solo block apiece, while Zimmerman added five block assists, Rodman had three block assists, and freshman BETHANY BEHNFELDT (Napoleon) and Wood each had two block assists. Schierer once again led the team in digs with 16, junior JENNA ESHLEMAN (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) contributed 12 digs, and Rowland and Streicher each had 10 digs.

 

For her efforts at Luther College over the weekend, Jenna Eshleman was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Beavers finished the trip 2-2 with victories over Bethel and Luther.

 

The Beavers open up conference action as they welcome rival Mount St. Joseph to Founders Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The first serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.