BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team went the distance in it's Saturday opener, but the Beavers regained momentum in the fifth for a five-set victory over Denison on September 14. Penn State-Behrend was next on the hit list and four sets later, the 12th straight victory had been cashed in as Bluffton improved to 12-1 on the season. It marks the most consecutive wins since the Beavers won 17 straight in 2009!
A questionable call with Bluffton up two sets to none and 24-23 in the third led to a pair of extra sets, however, the home team opened the clincher with a 9-1 lead and cruised in for the 15-8 victory.
Senior Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) celebrated prior to her brother's wedding that afternoon, slamming home a career-high 20 kills just minutes before he said 'I do!' She hit .300 for the match. Sophomore Kasey Sager (Troy) pounded 15 winners with a red-hot .480 hitting percentage. Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) and Chloe Sample (Springfield/Catholic Central) chimed in with 13 and 12 hammers, respectively.
Showing out with a career-best 55 assists was sophomore Gabby Williams (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) who also helped the cause with 11 pickups. Abby Lawhorn (Cable/Mechanicsburg) led the back row with 26 digs. Kaylei Barnett (Wapakoneta) bettered her career high with 13 digs. Woods and Paige Massie (Alvada/Arcadia) stuffed the Big Red with four blocks apiece.
Sager was the story in match two as she hit .474 with 12 kills and six blocks for 15.5 points on only 19 swings. Woods hammered away with 15 kills. Massie added eight winners for the good guys. Williams set the table with 36 assists. She had a monster afternoon, picking up 15 digs, firing two aces, smacking a pair of kills and stuffing Penn State-Behrend twice! Lawhorn came up with 16 digs and Ashlie Nuss (St. Marys/Memorial) chipped in a pair of aces.
Williams was named MVP of the Spiketacular for her outstanding work directing the offense and Lawhorn also earned All-Tournament honors after picking up 6.0 digs per set.
Bluffton is back in the Sommer Center on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when local rival Ohio Northern makes the short trip from Ada. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
-BEAVERS-