BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team fell to Manchester by the slimmest of margins in four sets on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. So slim in fact that the Beavers won the third set 25-22 before a reversed call turned the match on its head with the Spartans taking advantage for the 26-24 win. Bluffton slipped to 16-11 overall and 1-5 in the Heartland Conference, while Sparty improved to 15-8 and 5-1 in the HCAC.

Following a 25-16 Beaver rout in the lidlifter, Manchester claimed sets two, three and four by scores of 25-23, 26-24 and 27-25. Both squads finished with almost identical hitting percentages of .233 (Bluffton) and .231 (Manchester). The Beavers took advantage of 12 Manchester serving errors, but the visitors finished with 10 more kills (61-51).

Leading a balanced attack were Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) and Chloe Sample (Springfield/Catholic Central) who finished with 11 and 10 spikes, respectively. The triumvirate of Bekah Pack (Lexington), Jenna Woods (DeGraff/Riverside) and Kasey Sager (Troy) all chipped in with nine kills on Wednesday night. Sager went 9-1-17 for a blistering .471 hitting percentage.

Sophomores Gabby Wiliams (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) and Mallory Fluharty (Wooster/Triway) doled out 24 and 14 assists, respectively, and Barnett served up three aces for the home team. Abby Lawhorn (Cable/Mechanicsburg) led the defense with 17 pickups and Williams helped the cause with 11 digs. Sager led the Beavers with three blocks.

Bluffton will be back in the Sommer Center one more time when the Beavers host Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Nov. 2. First serve is slated for 12 p.m. with the Senior Day festivities prior to the matchup with the Engineers.

- BEAVERS-