NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University volleyball team went the long way around, but the end result made it worth it as the Beavers downed Manchester in five sets on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. Bluffton improved to 9-12 overall and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference after trailing 2-0 at North Manchester.

The visitors were on life support after dropping the first two sets, 25-16 and 25-19. A 25-21 victory in the third gave Bluffton hope and after a 27-25 overtime win in the fourth, the Beavers got their mojo back! Bluffton rolled to a big lead in the clincher and capped off the night with a 15-11 margin to claim the match.

Freshman Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) lit up the Spartans with nine kills against just one error for a sterling .471 hitting percentage. Senior Cassidy Posey (Paulding) rammed home 11 spikes for the victors. Junior Kaylie Campbell (Camden/Preble Shawnee) pounded eight kills, while Maddie White (Ashland) and Alysha Like (McComb) added seven winners apiece.

Junior Elle Price (Pocono Pines, PA/Findlay) doled out 27 assists and White chipped in with 10 helpers. Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) came up with ball after ball in the fifth set en route to a match-high 26 digs on Wednesday night! Price, Lindsey Shaw (Findlay/Van Buren) and Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) all chipped in with eight digs for the Beavers. Campbell and Posey led the front liners with four and three blocks, respectively.

Bluffton will continue on its three-match road swing with a trip to Franklin College on Saturday, Oct. 9. The first serve is slated for 1 p.m. in Grizzly country.

-BEAVERS-