The Bluffton University volleyball team had no answers for Hanover Head Coach Pete Preocanin and his Panthers on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Bluffton fell to 9-15 overall and 1-4 in the Heartland Conference, while Hanover improved to 12-8 and 4-1 in the HCAC.
Hanover mowed down the Beavers in the first two sets (25-18 and 25-12) before Bluffton nearly avoided the sweep with a 25-22 setback in the clinching set.
The Bluffton boys and girls cross country teams each finished third at the muddy Northwest Conference championship meet Saturday morning, October 16, in Van Wert.
Lady Pirate freshman June Essinger captured first place in the girls race with a time of 21:32.086. She beat out 40 other girls to win the wet event.
Freshman Mackay Tuttle finished seventh in 23:58.789. Sophomore Amairi Painter ended up 10th in 24:39.803.
Bluffton won a wild 40-37 seesaw battle over Delphos Jefferson in a Northwest Conference thriller to highlight a wet Homecoming Friday night, October 15, at Harmon Field. VIDEO https://youtu.be/nNgIijfiekg
Pirate senior quarterback Nate Schaadt returned to action with a vengeance after missing the previous game nursing injuries. He accounted for 319 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, including 285 on the ground, to pace Bluffton to victory.
The visiting Bluffton volleyball team lost in three sets to Van Buren in the regular season finale Thursday evening, October 14.
The Lady Pirate record dropped to 13-9 overall with the 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 defeat.
VB improved to 17-5 with the non-conference victory.
Senior Kylie Stackhouse led Bluffton with 16 kills and three blocks. Freshman Ayla Grandey and senior Kylie Monday each contributed five kills, and Grandey added two blocks.
The Bluffton boys soccer team edged visiting Kalida 1-0 in a defensive non-conference battle Thursday evening, October 14, at Steinmetz Field. VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS_eo_G484A
With the win in their regular season finale, the Pirates improved their record to 11-3-2. Bluffton is ranked ninth in the state Div. III poll.
Kalida finished its regular season 8-6-2 with the defeat.
Pirate senior Jude Spallinger tallied the only goal of the night at the 33:33 mark.
On October 12, Bluffton University announced that Angel Velasco-Urbina (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) has been named the Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts between the pipes..
