By Scott Van Eman, SID Assistant
10-13-03
The Bluffton College volleyball team completed one of their lighter scheduled weeks of the 2003 season playing two games at Founders Hall last Saturday. Bluffton chalked up wins in both matches, defeating Hanover 3-1 and Denison 3-0. Bluffton is currently 13-11 overall and 3-1 in the Heartland Conference.
Bluffton’s first game of their Saturday double-header came against fellow HCAC member Hanover. With the dominating 3-1 win Bluffton is now in a tie for 2nd place in the Heartland Conference and is just two wins behind 1st place Mount St. Joseph. Keri Kuhlman led the way for the Beavers’ posting 14 kills while Courtney Tisher added 12. Kelly Kettinger steadied the Beavers’ defense with 27 digs.
Bluffton followed up their strong performance in the first game with an equally impressive performance in the second, beating Denison 3-0. The non-conference win is Bluffton’s fifth win in their last eight games and sent the Beavers on a three match winning streak. Powering Bluffton’s offense once again were Kuhlman and Tisher who each pounded 10 kills while Jill Rothe led the team with 10 blocks.
Keri Kuhlman was named Heartland conference player-of-the-week for her efforts in Bluffton’s two wins last week. Kuhlman had 14 kills and a .570 hitting percentage against Hanover and 10 kills against Denison. She also had 10 blocks on the day. Kuhlman is ranked fourth in the HCAC in blocks per game averaging 1.1.
Bluffton’s only scheduled game of the week has the Beavers traveling to Franklin this Tuesday for another HCAC league game. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start time.
