By: Colton Steiner

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team kicked off its home conference slate on Saturday, Oct. 11, playing host to the Hanover Panthers on a Saturday afternoon in the Sommer Center. Hanover jumped ahead early and did not look back, cruising to a three-set sweep of the Beavers, dropping Bluffton to an overall record of 10-14 and a 0-2 in the HCAC. With the win, the Panthers improved to a mark of 12-8 on the season and 1-1 in the conference.

Starting off the first set with a 25-17 win, the Panthers hit .226, while the Beavers would hit .000 at the net with 11 kills and 11 errors. The visitors took set two (25-18), smacking 15 kills at a .281 rate, while Bluffton tallied nine kills with a .172 hitting percentage. The Beavers fought hard in the third set, pounding 14 kills, but 18 hammers from the Panthers were enough for a 26-24 clincher, sealing the 3-0 sweep for the visitors. 

With 11 kills in the contest, Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) led the way for Bluffton. Junior Kasey Sager (Troy) was right behind her with 10 kills and a .316 hitting percentage. Scooping up a team-high 14 kils was Emma Organ (Lambertville, MI/St. Ursula Academy). Ella Taylor (Urbana) added 11 digs of her own while leading the team with 20 assists. 

The Beavers will look for their first conference win when they host Berea College and the College of Wooster in a tri-match on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a 1 p.m. start time.

-BEAVERS-