BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team kicked off a marathon day in the Sommer Center with a five-set Senior Day victory over Franklin College on Saturday, Feb. 13. Franklin rebounded for a four-set victory in the non-conference match, but it wasn't much consolation for the Grizzlies who fell to 7-4 on the season and 4-2 in the conference.
Franklin led two sets to one and bolted out to a 10-1 lead in the fourth. The visitors still held a commanding 17-10 lead before sophomore Elle Price (Findlay) took her turn at the service line. Two timeouts and 11 serves later, Bluffton led 21-17 and was on its way to set number five! The Grizzlies again appeared ready to cash in with a victory, leading 12-7 in the clincher, but this time it was Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) who served Franklin off the court. She fired two aces during her seven-serve trip to the plate, sending the home team to an unfathomable 15-13 win that helped the Beavers move to 4-3 in the HCAC!
Senior Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) and freshman Alysha Like (McComb) both pounded 12 kills, while Cassidy Posey (Paulding) and Cassie Mladek (Coshocton/Ridgewood) were nipping at their heels with 11 and nine winners, respectively. Sophomore Kaylie Campbell (Camden/Preble Shawnee) led the home team with three blocks.
Piling up a team-best 23 digs was junior libero Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf). Bower, Weekley and Noel Ufferman (Marysville/Fairbanks) were also in double figures with 18, 14 and 10, respectively. Kleman and senior defensive specialist Chelsey Taylor (Hicksville) both fired three aces in the HCAC victory. Ufferman doled out 30 assists and Price added 13 helpers for the Beavers.
Franklin and Bluffton split the first two sets of match two before the visitors finished off the nightcap with 27-25 and 25-20 victories in sets three and four.
Everybody got in the action but it was Mladek leading the way with a career-best 10 kills. Jessica Lovell (Grove City) added eight kills, while Price and Campbell chipped in seven winners apiece. Price dished out 20 assists and Lindsey Shaw (Findlay/Van Buren) doled out 12 helpers. Alana Holsapple (New Madison/Tri-Village) smacked two kills, while Becky Siemer (Liberty, Twp./Lakota East) rifled two aces!
Lovell picked up a team-high 10 digs. Kleman, Bower and Caitlyn Renner (Cairo/Bath) all picked up nine digs in the non-conference matchup. Campbell was again in on three blocks.
Bluffton will make the one-hour trip northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 16, when the Beavers travel to rival Defiance College. The double feature is slated for 6 p.m. in the Weaner Center.
-BEAVERS-
