BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team kicked off the 2024 Sommer Center Spiketacular with a 3-1 win over Wilmington College on Friday, Sept. 13. The ten straight victories marks the most consecutive victories since 11 in a row during the 2015 season!

Bluffton split the first two sets with the Quakers, winning 25-18 before falling 25-22 in the second. The home team was up 20-10 in set three when Wilmington went to work, trimming the deficit to 23-20 while forcing a pair of timeouts. It took a Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) kill and block from Kasey Sager (Troy) and Gabby Williams (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem). Paige Massie (Alvada/Arcadia) just missed being the fourth Beaver in double figures, hammering nine kills against Wilmington.

Chloe Sample (Springfield/Catholic Central) led the way with 17 hammers. Barnett was just off her pace with 15 kills, while Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) finished with 12 putaways. Williams got it done with 50 assists in the opener, tying her career best. 

Sophomore Abby Lawhorn (Cable/Mechanicsburg) did the dirty work with a career-high 33 digs. Williams and Ashlie Nuss (St. Marys/Memorial) added 11 and 10 pickups, respectively. MAssie and Kaylei Barnett (Wapakoneta) both fired three aces at the Quakers.

The Beavers played all 21 ladies during their sweep of Hilbert in the nightcap! Barnett went for 10 kills, while Woods chipped in with eight. Williams dished out 11 assists in the first set and Mallory Fluharty added 10 helpers over the final two. Lawhorn scooped up 19 digs, giving her 52 in the Friday victories. Junior Bekah Pack (Lexington) added six winners. Kallie Durbin (Toledo/Toledo Christian) was in on four blocks, while Massie fired three of Bluffton's 13 aces.

Bluffton will be back in action for day two of the Spiketacular at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, when the Beavers face off with Denison.

-BEAVERS-