By Cort Reynolds

VAN WERT __ The visiting Bluffton High School volleyball team outlasted Northwest Conference rival Lincolnview in five sets to capture a key battle and sole possession of second place in the league Tuesday night, October 1.

The Pirates won for the 15th time in 17 matches by rallying to capture the final two sets. 

The Pirates improved to 16-3 overall and 4-1 in the NWC after the 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 28-26, 15-10 marathon victory. 

Lincolnview dropped to 12-5 overall and 3-2 in NWC play with the close defeat.

Ayla Grandey smacked 21 kills to pace the victorious hitting attack.

Kendall Stackhouse knocked down 14 kills, while Libby Hocanson and Karlie Lora each hammered eight kills for the multi-pronged Bluffton attack.  

The versatile Lora also came up with 17 digs, dealt a pair of aces and made one block. Grandey added one block.

Setter Gracie Yarnell passed out 43 assists. Libero Avery Talavinia mustered 21 digs, and Vanessa Cross came up with 15 digs. Talavinia also served up three aces.

The Lancers won a three-set JV match 25-11, 22-25, 25-22. 

First-place Crestview (7-0 NWC) clinched its fourth consecutive NWC title with a sweep of Delphos Jefferson Tuesday. The Lady Knights are 16-4 overall.

The Pirates (4-1 NWC) have the inside track for second place in the league after beating Lincolnview. Third-place Columbus Grove is 4-2 in the league. The Pirates play at Grove October 8 in the NWC finale. 

But first, Bluffton hosts seventh-place league foe Spencerville (5-12, 1-4 NWC) Thursday, October 3.