By Scott Van Eman, SID Assistant
9-29-03
The Bluffton College volleyball team had a heavy workload last week playing a total of five matches. The Beavers started off the week at home last Thursday against Tri-State and then traveled to the Ohio Wesleyan Tournament Friday and Saturday. Bluffton finished the week going 2-3 with wins over Westminster and Ohio Wesleyan and loses to Tri-State, Otterbein and Elmira. Bluffton is now 10-10 overall and 1-0 in the Heartland Conference.
Bluffton started the week with a 3-1 loss to Tri-State. The Beavers won the first game of the match 30-18 but went on to loss the next three games by six points or less each. Courtney Tisher, Keri Kuhlman and Erin Kreim each provided 10 kills or more in the match while Karah Weldy recorded 20 digs.
The Beavers were unable to bounce back from the home loss in their tournament opening match against Otterbein, losing 3-0. All three games were close with Bluffton losing by no more than six points. Bluffton snapped their two game losing streak in their next match-up, downing Westminster 3-0. Leading the way for the Beavers was Jenae Meck with 12 kills and Leslie Overmyer with 19 digs. Unfortunately, Bluffton couldn’t keep the winning streak alive in their next match, losing to Elmira 3-2. Bluffton’s last match-up of the tournament pitted the Beavers against Ohio Wesleyan. The Beavers 3-2 win was undoubtedly their most exciting one of the tournament. After a 2-2 game split Bluffton trailed Ohio Wesleyan by a large 14-5 margin in the fifth game. With the chances of a win dwindling, Courtney Tisher scored nine consecutive points to even the game 14-14. With the game on the line and the momentum on their side the Beavers took control defeating Ohio Wesleyan 17-15.
Keri Kuhlman is among Bluffton’s leaders this season totaling 129 total kills for 2.35 average kills per game. Senior Erin Cooper has been Bluffton’s most steady setter providing 321 assists thus far. Defensively, Bluffton is lead by Karah Weldy who has accumulated a team leading 266 digs this season which ranks third in the Heartland Conference.
Bluffton will begin the bulk of the HCAC schedule this week, traveling to Defiance on Tuesday and to Transylvania on Thursday. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. start times.
