SANDUSKY, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team split a pair of matches at Cedar Point on the opening day of the 2024 season. Following a tough loss to Monmouth, the Beavers went at Oberlin College like a hot knife through butter! Bluffton finished off day one with a 1-1 mark and high hopes for more success on Saturday.
Bluffton went the distance and then some in its first two sets with Monmouth, falling 31-29 and 25-23. A 25-21 victory had the Beavers riled up, but Monmouth capped its four-setter with a 25-18 win.
Junior Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) and Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) were on fire in the lidlifter, spanking 17 and 16 kills respectively! The both hit at least .300 for the match. Sophomore Chloe Sample (Springfield/Catholic Central) made it three in double figures as she put away 12 winners.
Sophomore Gabby Williams (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) doled out 44 assists and helped the cause with 11 digs. Sophomore Abby Lawhorn (Cable/Mechanicsburg) led the back line with 14 pickups. Freshman Saniyah Terry (Macomb, MI/L Anse Creuse HS North) and senior Kaylei Barnett (Wapakoneta) chipped in with 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Paige Massie (Alvada/Arcadia) added six kills and four blocks.
A 26-24 Bluffton victory over Oberlin in the first set of the 8 p.m. match had the Beaver faithful contemplating another long one, but Coach Yarnell and his crew had other ideas as they spanked the Yeowomen 25-12 and 25-14, completing the three-set sweep!
Barnett had the hot hand once again, hitting a blistering .364 with a team-high 11 kills. Woods finished with nine, while Sample and Massie checked in with seven and six, respectively. Williams chimed in with 21 assists and 10 digs. Sophomore Ella Taylor (Urbana) handed out 12 assists in just one set, while Lawhorn picked up digs. Terry and Ashlie Nuss (St. Marys/Memorial) both fired two aces against Oberlin.
Bluffton will wrap up its two-day stay at Cedar Point with matchups against Washington & Jefferson and Waynesburg, both from Pennsylvania.
-BEAVERS-