By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton girls volleyball team rallied to win a tough four-set match over Van Buren Monday night in first round Div. III sectional action.
Bluffton improved its record to 14-8 overall with the hard-fought 26-28, 25-23, 25-22, 25-17 comeback victory. Due to a scheduling quirk, it was their second four-set win over the Black Knight girls in five days.
Seventh-seeded VB finished its season 11-9 after the defeat.
Athletic junior Kylie Stackhouse led the Pirate offense with 29 kills, 20 digs and one block. Versatile junior Taylor Schwab contributed 20 kills and two blocks. Senior Cora Bischoff added nine kills and one block.
Pirate junior setter Skyler Scoles doled out a season-high 51 assists, made one block and served up three aces. Junior defensive specialist Kylie Monday mustered up 17 digs, while classmate Cara Young added a dozen digs.
Juniors Haelynn Bischoff and Sophie Bricker added one block apiece.
Bluffton plays at fourth-seeded Parkway in the sectional finals Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Lady Panthers (12-10) swept Delphos Jefferson 3-0 in their first round match Monday.
Parkway is 11-3 in non-MAC matches after going 1-7 in the rugged Midwest Athletic Conference. The Lady Pirates are seeded fifth and thus will be the road team Wednesday.
The winner of that match will likely visit top-seeded Ottawa-Glandorf Monday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. in the district semifinals. O-G received a first round bye and will play the Elmwood/Riverdale survivor in round two.
Liberty-Benton was seeded second in the 13-team district, and Coldwater is third.
The district finals are set for Wednesday, Oct. 28 a the higher-seeded finalist.
