The Bluffton University volleyball team took the long road to downing Manchester in five sets on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. Bluffton improved to 9-12 overall and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference after trailing 2-0 at North Manchester.

The visitors dropped the first two sets 25-16 and 25-19. A 25-21 victory in the third gave Bluffton hope and after a 27-25 overtime win in the fourth, the Beavers got their mojo back. Bluffton rolled to a big lead in the clincher and capped off the night with a 15-11 margin to claim the match.

Freshman Chloei Barnett (Wapakoneta) lit up the Spartans with nine kills against just one error for a sterling .471 hitting percentage. Senior Cassidy Posey (Paulding) rammed home 11 spikes for the victors. Junior Kaylie Campbell (Camden/Preble Shawnee) pounded eight kills, while Maddie White (Ashland) and Alysha Like (McComb) added seven winners apiece.

Junior Elle Price (Pocono Pines, PA/Findlay) doled out 27 assists and White chipped in with 10 helpers. Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) came up with ball after ball in the fifth set en route to a match-high 26 digs on Wednesday night! Price, Lindsey Shaw (Findlay/Van Buren) and Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) all chipped in with eight digs for the Beavers. Campbell and Posey led the front liners with four and three blocks, respectively.

Bluffton will continue on its three-match road swing with a trip to Franklin College on Saturday, Oct. 9. The first serve is slated for 1 p.m. in Grizzly country.