September 8, 2018

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University Volleyball Team gave OAC powers Heidelberg and Ohio Northern all they wanted before dropping a pair of five setters on day two of the Sommer Center Spiketacular on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. Bluffton fell to 2-6 on the season, but the Beavers showed they can compete with the best teams in their region.

Bluffton had four hitters in double figures against the Student Princes (25-23, 19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-12), led by Bethany Martini (Pickerington/North) who rammed home 17 winners. Sophomore Remi Bower (Hamler/Patrick Henry) checked in with a dozen, while seniors Erin Weisgarber (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) and Jessie Gibson (Warsaw, Ohio/River View) tallied 10 apiece. Sarah Heydinger (Tiro, Ohio/Buckeye Central) just missed double digits with nine spikes and she was also in on four blocks as was Gibson.

Weisgarber netted a triple double with 48 assists and 22 digs. She was one of six Beavers with more than 10 pickups! Freshman Brooke Kleman (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) dialed up 35 digs to pace the home team. Martini tallied 21 digs, while Courtney Zimpfer (Jackson Center) and Abby Rohrbach (New Knoxville) added 18 and 14, respectively. Fellow senior Casey Clark (Lima/Central Catholic) followed with 12. Freshman Maddie White (Ashland) fired a team-best three aces.

The tournament finale saw Martini throw down a match-high 20 kills. Bower and White just missed double digits with nine and eight kills, respectively. Kleman again exceeded 30 digs with 31, en route to all-tournament honors (104 for the weekend), while Rohrbach scooped up 24. Zimpfer tallied 11 digs and Weisgarber handed out 38 assists. Gibson, Weisgarber and Bower were all in on three blocks for the Beavers.

Bluffton will make the short trip back to Ada on Tuesday night, looking to even up the season series with Ohio Northern when the teams renew their rivalry at 7 p.m. in the King Horn Center!

-BEAVERS-