By: Colton Steiner
BLUFFTON, Ohio - As the regular season is beginning to wind down, the Bluffton Beavers would play host to the Mount St. Joseph Lions on Saturday, Oct. 25 in a battle on Copeland Court. After falling behind 2-0, the Beavers would be in possession to force a fifth set, but a late run from Mount St. Joseph would lead to a fourth set win and a 3-1 victory over the Beavers. With the win, Bluffton falls to a record of 12-16 with a 1-4 mark in the conference, while the Lions improve to 10-11 on the 2025 campaign and stay undefeated at 5-0 in the HCAC.
The contest would open up with a close first set, with the visitors coming out with a 25-23 win, despite the Beavers having two more kills and a better hitting percentage. Bluffton would cut back on the errors at the net, but Mount St. Joseph would come out swinging, hitting 14 kills at a rate of .393 as they took the second set 25-17. Down 2-0 in the match and their backs against the wall, the Beavers managed to stay poised despite having less kills and a lower kill percentage, and take set three 25-23. With momentum switching to their side, Bluffton would cruise to a 17-10 lead in set four, until a run from the Lions would even up the ballgame at 21-21, where they would close out the match by outscoring the Beavers 4-2 as Mount St. Joseph would seal the set 25-23 and notch a 3-1 win over Bluffton.
The visiting Lions would hold a 55-48 edge in total kills, while also hitting at a more consistent rate with a .223 kill percentage while holding the Beavers to a rate of .164. Leading the way for the Beavers at the net was Kasey Sager (Troy), who hit a team-high .444 with a game-high 16 kills. Bekah Pack (Lexington) and Jenna Woods (DeGraff, Ohio / Riverside) would each smack down 11 balls, with Gabby Williams (West Liberty, Ohio / West Liberty-Salem) dishing out 40 assists to go along with seven digs. Emma Organ (Lambertville, MI / St. Ursula Academy) was all over the court, scooping up a game-high 22 digs in the contest.
Bluffton will look to end the two game losing streak they're on when they travel across state lines to Indiana to go up against the Manchester Spartans on Wednesday, Oct. 29, with a 7 p.m. start.
-Beavers-
