By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School volleyball team defeated Lincolnview in a five-set Northwest Conference battle on Tuesday, September 30.

The Pirate girls improved to 13-7 overall and 5-1 in NWC play with the comeback 19-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-21, 15-10 victory. It was their last regular season home match of the season.

Lincolnview fell to 11-6 and 3-2 in the NWC after the road defeat.

Karlie Lora led Bluffton with a season-high 19 kills. Libby Hocanson knocked down a dozen kills, and Kendall Stackhouse smacked 11.

Camryn Fruchey passed for 28 assists. Adelyn Althaus dished out 18 helpers.       

Vanessa Cross paced the Pirates with 21 digs. Gracie Warren hustled up 12 digs. Lora also dealt four aces, while Cross and Taylin Goldman served three aces apiece.

Lora came up with three blocks, while Fruchey made a pair of blocks.

The Bluffton JV lost the reserve match, 2-1. 

The Pirates play at last-place Spencerville (6-12, 0-4 NWC) on Thursday, October 2 in the Bluffton league finale. The struggling Bearcats lost 3-1 to AE Tuesday.

Bluffton has to hope first-place Crestview (6-0 NWC) loses its last league match at LCC (3-2 NWC) Thursday to have a chance to earn a share of the NWC title, which would happen only if they also beat Spencerville that night.

The first-place Knights swept Delphos Jefferson 3-0 Tuesday to clinch at least a share of the league crown. Crestview previously won at Bluffton 3-0 on Sept. 25.

With a win at last-place Spencerville, the Pirates would clinch sole possession of second place in the league at the very least.

The Bluffton regular season finale is Oct. 9 at Van Buren (14-3).

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