The Bluffton University volleyball team gave #1 seed Transylvania all it could handle before falling to the Pioneers in four tight sets (25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22) on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Bluffton was competing in its sixth straight HCAC semi-finals as the Beavers capped off their season with a 14-15 mark

Down two sets to none, Bluffton turned it around with 11 kills against just three errors for a 25-22 victory in set three. The #4 seed Beavers had a fifth set in view, up 22-20, before the top-seeded Pioneers closed it out with five straight points. Bluffton struggled to stop right side Jordan Horne and middle Ellie Stigger who pounded 20 and 15 kills, respectively.

Bethany Martini (Pickerington/North) and Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) led the offense with 11 kills apiece. Erin Weisgarber (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) ended her historic career with 35 assists and 15 digs. Freshman Brooke Kleman (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) picked up a team-high 20 digs against the Pioneers. Courtney Zimpfer (Jackson Center) chipped in 13 and Martini added 12 pickups.

Transylvania will take on the winner of Earlham and Rose-Hulman at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. to determine the automatic berth for the NCAA Tournament.