By Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/volleyball/2011/09-28-vb.htm

The Beavers took home their first conference victory on Wednesday, Sept. 28, over the Spartans of Manchester College. The Beavers are now 11-7 (1-1 HCAC). The first two sets against the Spartans went down to the wire, but in the third set the Beavers pulled away, winning in three (25-20, 25-22, 25-12).

Kyleigh Whitsel (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) put up 26 assists for the Beaver attackers which was led by the senior trio of Nicole Wood (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) with nine kills, Jenna Eshleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) with eight spikes and Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) hammering down six kills.

The Beaver defense was on alert with junior Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) picking up a team-high 25 digs. Eshleman was next with 10 digs and sophomores Whitsel and Lindsay Krohn (Marysville, Ind./New Washington) were close behind with nine and eight digs, respectively. Helping out the Beaver defense was Brooke Distel's (Carey) three block assists, along with Bethany Behnfeldt (Napoleon) and Zimmerman's two block assists each.

Next, the Beavers face the Ravens of Anderson University at home in Founders Hall this Friday, September 30. The contest is slated to start at 7 p.m.