BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team kicked off the 2023 Sommer Center Spiketacular with a five-set loss to Kalamazoo College and then a four-set loss to Capital University. Bluffton fell to 3-9 on the season heading into day two of the Spiketacular.

The home team rolled out to a commanding 2-0 lead over Kalamazoo on the strength of a 25-22 victory and a 25-11 shellacking. However, the Hornets would not go away as they rallied to take the final three sets for a come-from-behind win in the Friday lidlifter.

Sophomore Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) hammered away with 14 kills and a .235 hitting percentage. Junior Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) also pounded out double figures with 10 spikes. Just outside double digits was Kelly Armentrout (Lima/Shawnee) with eight. Chloe Sample (Springfield/Catholic Central) and Kasey Sager (Troy) added seven kills apiece. Fellow freshman Mallory Fluharty (Wooster/Triway) doled out 28 assists in match one.

Abby Lawhorn (Cable/Mechanicsburg) picked up a team-best 19 digs, while Fluharty chalked up a double double with 15 digs to go along with her 28 helpers. Sample added nine digs and Emma Organ (Lambertville, MI/St. Ursula Academy) fired three aces at the Hornets.

Woods and Barnett paced the front line with nine kills apiece in the loss to Capital. Fluharty handed out 22 assists and Lawhorn finished with nine digs. Kennedy Parker (Lima/Central Catholic) rifled three aces in the Friday nightcap.

Bluffton will be back in the Sommer Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, when the Beavers take on Olivet before a 2 p.m. meeting with Geneva.

-BEAVERS-