By: Brittany Roth, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton’s third Heartland Conference match of the year brought Mount St. Joseph to the Sommer Center for a mid-week showdown between the Lions and the Beavers. Bluffton improved to 16-6 overall and 3-0 in the HCAC by downing the always-tough Lions in five sets.
The home team led 16-9 in the first set, but a late run by Mount left the Beavers on the wrong end of a 25-23 decision. The second set was back-and-forth with 11 tie scores and 8 lead changes. Bluffton came out on top to win, 25-21. The Beavers made a statement in set three, hammering the Lions 25-15, but MSJ came back in the fourth for a 25-19 victory. Bluffton took control early in the fifth set, going up 8-2 and cruising to the 15-9 win in the clincher.
Leading the Beavers offensively were MACKENZIE MCFARLIN (Ashland) with 17 kills (.412) and JENNY BROWN (St. Marys/Memorial) with 13 kills (.409). KENDRA PARMENTER (Grove City) added 15 kills (.250) for the victors. LAUREN WEISGARBER (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley), SYDNEY MOHLER (Lima/Central Catholic) and McFarlin each fired two aces from the service line and SARA ROTH (Findlay/Van Buren) handed out a match-high 54 assists. Mohler led the Beaver defense with 13 digs.
Bluffton’s next match is on the road against Heartland Conference foe Franklin College on Saturday at 7 p.m. It will be a Homecoming matchup between a pair of 3-0 teams in the HCAC.
-BEAVERS-
