Bluffton finishes 2nd to Crestview in NWC

By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE – The visiting Bluffton High School volleyball team survived a marathon first set and went on to beat Spencerville in a tough four-set Northwest Conference match on Thursday, September 2.

The Pirate girls improved to 14-7 overall and finished 6-1 in NWC play with the hard-fought road victory.  

With the surprisingly difficult 36-34, 25-23, 23-25, 25-13 win at Spencerville, the Pirates clinched sole possession of second place in the league.

Crestview beat Lima Central Catholic 3-1 Thursday night to clinch the outright NWC championship. Bluffton needed the first-place Knights to lose their final league match at LCC to earn a share of the NWC title.

Struggling Spencerville fell to 8-14 overall and 1-6 in the NWC after the defeat.

Karlie Lora again led Bluffton with 19 kills for the second consecutive match. Lora also came up with a dozen digs and served two aces.

Kendall Stackhouse knocked down 13 kills, and Taylin Goldman smacked down a season-best 12 kills.

Adelyn Althaus passed out 25 assists, while Camryn Fruchey doled out 22 helpers in the balanced two-setter attack. Both also dealt a pair of aces.

Vanessa Cross mustered up 19 digs. Gracie Warren came up with a dozen digs.

Libby Hocanson came up with three blocks, while Goldman made two blocks.

Columbus Grove and Lincolnview entered their final match against one another Thursday tied at 4-2. The Lancers edged CG at home 3-2 to finish third in the NWC at 5-2 behind Bluffton and Crestview.

The Bulldogs thus tied LCC for fourth place in the eight-team standings at 4-3. Allen East finished sixth at 2-5, followed by the Bearcats (1-6) and Delphos Jefferson in last (0-7).

The Pirate junior varsity beat the Bearcats in the reserve match, 2-0.

The Bluffton regular season finale is Thursday, Oct. 9 at tough Van Buren (14-4).

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