By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School volleyball team swept visiting Columbus Grove in a Northwest Conference match on Senior Night Tuesday, September 23.

The Pirates improved to 12-5 overall and 4-0 in NWC play with the 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 win.

Columbus Grove fell to 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the NWC after the defeat.

Senior Kendall Stackhouse led Bluffton with 17 kills. Karlie Lora smacked nine kills and senior Libby Hocanson hit six kills.

Adelyn Althaus dished out 31 assists.  

Senior Vanessa Cross mustered a season-high 27 digs, while Gracie Warren hustled up 11 digs. Senior Ashley McLaughlin contributed 10 digs.

Cross, Althaus and Lainey Grandey each served up three aces.

Hocanson led the team with two blocks. Senior Emily Granger and Stackhouse came up with one block apiece.

The Bluffton JV lost to Grove, 2-1. The Pirate freshmen won, 2-0.

The Pirates entertain perennial power Crestview (8-3, 3-0 NWC) in a first-place league spike showdown on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Five Pirate seniors were recognized before the match - Ashley McLaughlin, defensive specialist; Libby Hocanson, middle hitter; Kendall Stackhouse, outside hitter; Emily Granger, middle/right side hitter; and Vanessa Cross, defensive specialist.