Here is a report of Bluffton University fall sport events from Saturday.
Volleyball
The Bluffton University women's volleyball team traveled to Earlham College as they began Heartland Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. The Quakers were able to pull off a 3-1 (25-15, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17) victory over the Beavers. Bluffton dropped to 4-16 (0-1 HCAC) on the season, while Earlham improved to 13-5 (1-0 HCAC).
Junior Remi Bower (Hicksville) brought the offensive heat with 21 winners and two blocks for the visiting team. Carley Lester (Chesapeake) pitched in with eight kills for the Beavers. Sophomore Maddie White (Ashland) dished out 31 helpers against the Quakers.
Sophomore Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) led the Bluffton defense with 22 digs. White was in on 18 pickups of her own for a new career high. Kleman and Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) fired two aces apiece for the Beavers. Chelsey Taylor (Hicksville) and Weekley also got it done in the back row with 18 and 15 digs, respectively, with Taylor setting a new career high. Sophomore Kia Rainey (Adrian, MI/Madison) chipped in with a career-high tying 10 digs.
The women next play Anderson University Ravens.
Women's soccer
The Bluffton University women's soccer team opened 2019 Heartland Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 5, against the Rose-Hulman Engineers. The Beavers dropped a 3-0 decision to RHIT in the conference lidlifter. Bluffton fell to 3-7 (0-1 HCAC) on the season, while Rose-Hulman improved to 6-4 (1-0 HCAC).
The Engineers' Lane Lawrence secured the first goal just a little over two minutes into the match, giving Rose-Hulman a 1-0 lead at the half. Jessica Wells and Alexis Juarcz both netted shots in the second period to secure Rose's 3-0 shutout of the Beavers.
Rose-Hulman put up 33 shots compared to Bluffton's seven. Both teams forced three corner kicks but Bluffton was whistled for 13 more fouls (17-4). Junior keeper Jules Frazier (Nova/Mapleton) walked away with an impressive 19 saves on Saturday.
The women are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 9, when they head north to HCAC rival Defiance College. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
Men's soccer
The Bluffton University men's soccer team opened up 2019 Heartland Conference play against Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Engineers scored two second half goals for a 2-0 shutout of the Beavers. Bluffton fell to 5-6 (0-1 HCAC) on the season, while Rose-Hulman improved to 8-2 (1-0 HCAC).
Strong defense from both teams left the match scoreless going into the break. In the 65th minute, the Engineers' Ryan Tarr secured the first goal of the game to give Rose-Hulman a 1-0 lead. Another Engineer tally from Eric Kirby secured the 2-0 shutout for the visiting team. Bluffton's Jacob Kiger (Groveport/St. Charles Prep) and Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) led the Beaver offense with four and three shots respectively.
Rose-Hulman put up 25 shots, compared to Bluffton's seven. The Engineers forced three more corner kicks (5-2), while the Beavers were whistled for seven more fouls (16-9). Freshman keeper Tanner Newport (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun Valley) walked away with seven saves between the posts.
The men are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 9, when they welcome HCAC rival Defiance College to the Dam. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
