By Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

Muskingum stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/volleyball/2011/09-23-v1.htm

I Capital stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/volleyball/2011/09-23-v2.htm

The Bluffton University volleyball team opened up the weekend at the OAC/HCAC Challence with victories over Capital and Muskingum, pushing the Beavers to 8-7 on the season.

The Beavers swept the Muskies 3-0 to start the day (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) and snap a six-match losing skid. During the match against Muskingum, senior Jenna Esleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) pounded career kill 1,000. The Beaver offense was run by sophomore Kyleigh Whitsel (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) who tallied 35 assists. The hitters were led by senior outside Nicole Wood (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon) with 11 kills, Eshleman with nine kills, junior Brooke Distel (Carey) with seven kills and senior middle Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) with six kills.

Defensively, the Beavers were paced by junior Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) with 22 digs, followed by seniors Eshleman and Wood with 11 and 10, respectively.

Next, the Beavers took on the Crusaders of Capital University, defeating them in three sets (25-22, 25-20, 25-18). Eshleman once again sparked the Beaver offense with 11 kills. Wood tallied eight, Zimmerman put away seven and Distel chipped in with five. Whitsel anchored the Beaver offense with 28 assists. Schierer and Eshleman both fired three aces and also had 24 and 19 digs, respectively. Hailey Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) added 11 digs to the Beaver defensive effort.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Beavers take on Baldwin-Wallace at 10 a.m. followed by a matchup with the host Polar Bears of ONU at 2 p.m.