October 15, 2015

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team will hit the road and put its 11-match winning streak on the line again four formidable opponents in the 2015 Midwest Invitational, hosted by Calvin College. This will be the first trip back to Grand Rapids, Mich., since 2013 when the Beavers lost to Wittenberg in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Calvin College – The host Knights enter the contest ranked #5 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Calvin boasts a record of 17-3 overall with a perfect 11-0 mark in the MIAA. Calvin has been a constant in the NCAA DIII volleyball tournament world, playing in three finals and winning the national title twice in the last five years. The last meeting between schools came in 2002 and Calvin was victorious by a score of 3-0. The all-time series is led by Calvin, 16-3.

Hope College – The reigning 2014 national champions enter the contest ranked #13 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. They are currently 14-5 overall and 9-2 in the MIAA with both losses coming to rival Calvin College. The Beavers last competed against Hope at the 2013 Sommer Center Spiketacular, where Hope was victorious 3-0. The Flying Dutch hold an 11-3 all-time advantage in the series.

Carthage College – The #11 ranked Lady Reds have been impressive again in 2015, racing out to a 20-4 mark and 2-1 start in the always powerful CCIW. Bluffton and Carthage met in 2014 at the Benedictine Invitational, where the Lady Red came out on top by a 3-0 count. Carthage leads the all-time series, 2-0.

Elmhurst College – The #16 ranked Elmhurst College Blue Jays have accumulated a 17-7 start and 3-1 mark in the CCIW. Another opponent the Beavers faced in 2014 at the Benedictine Invitational, the Blue Jays got the best of the Beavers in a competitive 3-0 match. Elmhurst holds the all-time series record, 6-2.

-BEAVERS-