BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team dominated defending Heartland Conference champion Hanover College in three quick sets on Saturday, Sept. 29. It marked the end of Hanover's 27-match regular season Heartland Conference winning streak and it also marked the first regular season win over the Panthers for Bluffton since 2010. The Beavers evened up their record at 9-9 (1-0 HCAC), while Hanover slipped to 7-8 and 0-1 in the conference.
A 14-6 start in set one and a 19-5 spurt to end set two had the Beavers in command on Saturday afternoon. The home team led by as many as eight in the clincher and held on for the 25-21 victory and sweep of the pre-season favorite Panthers!
Seniors Bethany Martini (Pickerington/North) and Erin Weisgarber (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) led the way for the Beavers with 13 and 11 kills, respectively. Weisgarber hit .381 to go along with her 23 assists. Freshman Maddie White (Ashland) hit .357 with six kills against just one error.
Freshman libero Brooke Kleman (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) was all over the court with a match-high 21 pickups. Casey Clark (Lima/Central Catholic) and Abby Rohrbach (New Knoxville) both picked up 11 digs for the victors. Sophomore Sarah Heydinger (Tiro/Buckeye Central) was in on four blocks, including three of the solo variety. Kleman and Rohrbach both rifled three aces at the Panthers.
Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 3, when the Beavers welcome Mount St. Joseph to the Sommer Center. The first serve is slated for 7 p.m. Come out and support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
