October 11, 2011
By: Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

DELAWARE, Ohio - The Beavers became the first team in the Heartland Conference this season to reach the 15 win mark as they took a 3-0 sweep over the Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan University (25-13 , 25-12 , 25-22) on Tuesday, October 11. Once again, the Beavers were able to get all 20 players who traveled into the match. 

The offense was spread evenly against the Bishops. Senior Jenna Eshleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) slammed eight kills and Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) put away six kills. Sophomore Bethany Behnfeldt (Napoleon) also pounded six kills while senior NICOLE WOOD (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) hammered five kills. Freshmen Ashley Litwiller (Hopedale, Ill./Olympia) and Kristyn Hovest (Pandora/Pandora-Gilboa) added three kills apiece for the Beavers along with two kills by sophomore setter Kyleigh Whitsel (Sheffield Lake/Brookside), freshman Amber Saddler (Elida) and junior Brooke Distel (Carey).

Directing the offense for the Beavers was Whitsel with 31 assists. Freshman setter Andrea Banghart (Syracuse, Ind./Wawasee) also got into the action, putting two assists on the board. 

Defensively, the Beavers were also balanced across the board. Leading the way was junior libero Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) with 14 digs, Whitsel with 11 digs, Eshleman and freshman Melissa Wichie (Brunswick) with 10 apiece. Sophomore Lindsay Krohn (Marysville, Ind./New Washington) added nine digs. Senior Meghan Dodson (Tiffin/Calvert), who saw time at libero, and sophomore Haley Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) both chipped in with five digs. 

Up next for the Beavers is a crucial weekend trip that includes contests at Transylvania and Hanover. Bluffton heads to Lexington, Ky., to take on conference leader and defending regular-season champion Transylvania this Friday, October 14, at 7 p.m. 

-BEAVERS-