September 17, 2011
By: Megan Mohr, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Beavers took on two nationally ranked teams on Saturday, Sept. 17, #13 Hope and #3 Wittenberg. Bluffton finally came alive in the third set with the Flying Dutch, winning that set 25-16. However, the fourth set didn't go as well for the Beavers, ending with Hope on top (25-18, 25-12, 16-25, 25-20). 

The second match of the day for Bluffton was against the #3 in the nation, the tournament host Tigers of Wittenberg. Proving themselves to be the top of the D3 level of volleyball, the Tigers came out with a win, improving to 8-1 on the season, their only blemish a wild five-set loss to #1 Calvin on Friday night. The Beavers slipped to 6-6 with their fifth straight loss. The scores were 25-13, 25-9 and 25-16.

Leading the Beavers on the day were seniors Jenna Eshleman(Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) with 21 kills and 16 digs, Nicole Wood(Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) with 15 kills and 12 digs and Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) with 14 kills and four blocks. Junior Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) added 18 digs for the Beavers. Sophomore setter Kyleigh Whitsel (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) dished out 20 assists and 13 digs to go along with freshman MORGAN FULLENKAMP'S (Botkins) 22 assists and 14 digs. 

Next, the Bluffton Beavers head to Mount St. Joseph for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener. They will take on the Lions who are 2-10 on the season. The match is slated for 7 p.m.

-BEAVERS-