BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team fell to Transylvania and Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Bluffton slipped to 5-18 overall and 0-3 in the Heartland Conference, while the nationally-ranked Pioneers upped their mark to 16-5 and 3-0 in the HCAC. Ohio Wesleyan split and the Battling Bishops stand 16-4 on the season.

Sophomore Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) led Bluffton with eight kills against the Pioneers. She hit .263 in match one. Kasey Sager (Troy) added six kills and four blocks for the home team.

Fellow freshman Mallory Fluharty (Wooster/Triway) dished out 19 assists, while sophomore Emma Organ (Lambertville, Mich./St. Ursula) picked up eight digs for the Beavers. Transy opened the afternoon with a straight-set victory (25-13, 25-17, 25-15).

Ohio Wesleyan fell to the Pioneers 3-1 after taking the opening set. The Battling Bishops recovered quickly and earned a Saturday split with a three-set win over the host Beavers.

Junior Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) was on fire, slamming home 11 kills on 20 swings with just one error for a red-hot .500 hitting percentage. Woods was also in double figures wtih 10 putaways. Sager added a pair of blocks. Leah Steinke (Botkins) got in on the action with three hammers.

Fluharty chimed in with 23 assists. Organ paced the back row with 17 digs, while freshman Abby Lawhorn (Cable/Mechanicsburg) rifled two service aces.

Bluffton is back in the Sommer Center for another Heartland Conference battle on Wednesday, Oct. 18. The first serve with Mount St. Joseph is slated for 7 p.m.

-BEAVERS-