Sept. 4, 2011
By: Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

HAVERFORD, Penn. - In back-to-back matches, the Bluffton University women's volleyball team took down two top-flight opponents on day two of the Haverford College Volleyball Tournament on Sunday, September 4, 2011. The Beavers opened up competition with Susquehanna, polishing off the Crusaders in five exciting sets, 28-30, 18-25, 25-19, 25-21 and 15-11. They followed that up with a victory over the Bobcats of Frostburg State University in four sets, 25-17, 25-20, 20-25 and 25-22. Their two victories on the day moved the Beavers to 3-1 this season.

Against Susquehanna, senior Jenna Eshleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) led all attackers with 17 kills. She was followed by teammates Nicole Wood (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) and Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield), who had 15 and 12 kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Kyleigh Whitsel (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) paced the Beaver attack with 34 of the 45 assists. Junior libero Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) picked up a whopping 29 balls with Eshleman digging 19 for her second double-double of the season.

In their second match of the day, Wood put down 17 kills, while Eshleman followed closely with 13 spikes and Zimmerman with 12 kills. Managing the offense were freshman Morgan Fullenkamp ( Botkins ) and Whitsel who dished out 25 and 21 assists, respectively. Schierer served the game-winning ace to go along with her 31 digs. Seniors Eshleman and Wood both chipped in with 18 digs in the victory over a Frostburg team that went 34-4 in 2010.

On Friday, the Beavers continue their play at Baldwin-Wallace when they take on Thiel at 6 p.m. followed by a meeting with Johns Hopkins at 8 p.m.

-BEAVERS-