By Tim Stried, SID
September 12, 1999

Coming off a tough match with Ohio Northern University last Wednesday night in Founders Hall, the Bluffton College volleyball team fashioned a fifth place finish out of twelve teams at the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jacket Invitational September 10 and 11.

Starting off last week's schedule undefeated ONU on Wednesday night, BC saw their record fall to 2-4 with a 3-0 loss to the Polar Bears 6-15, 2-15, 8-15. Sophomore Mandy Pequignot (DeGraff/Indian Lake) led the Beavers with eight kills, while junior Betsy Hook (Wellington) had seven digs and three service aces. Other team-highs included senior Cheryl Cunningham (Edon) with four blocks and sophomore Erica Jellison (Van Wert/Crestview) with 11 assists.

In the Baldwin-Wallace College Yellow Jacket Invitational, Head Coach Sara Wakefield commented that she was happy with the team's overall play. "We played together and communicated well," the first-year head coach said. "Team and individual improvement have led to better play on the court."

BC opened the BW Invitational on Friday with a hard-fought five game loss to tournament semi-finalist John Carroll University 3-15, 15-12, 4-15, 15-6, 12-15. Pequignot recorded 10 kills, 12 digs and tied teammates Hook and Cunningham for the team lead in blocks with five. Jellison notched 15 assists and tied junior Beth Weidus (Cleveland/Lutheran West) with three service aces.

The Beavers then finished off their Friday schedule with a three game sweep of Adrian College 18-16, 15-10, 15-8. Jellison recorded 28 assists, Hook had 13 kills, and senior Dena Eichelberger (Ashland/Crestview) had 15 digs to lead BC.

Bluffton began play on Saturday with another 3-0 victory, this time over Hiram College 15-5, 15-6, 15-0. Weidus recorded a team-high seven kills while sophomore Jaimie Frisk (Wooster) had 10 digs. Eichelberger had three service aces for the Beavers, Jellison had 16 assists and Hook and senior Shannon Hedrick (Rootstown/Southeast) both marked up seven blocks.

In the championship quarterfinals Bluffton ran into a strong Case Western Reserve University team and fell 13-15, 9-15, 6-15. Hook rang up 10 kills while Pequignot and junior Alison Harrer (New Washington/Buckeye Central) both had nine. Eichelberger had 12 digs for the Beavers while Jellison put up 28 assists.

Now 4-6 on the season, Bluffton was to have played at Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday night before competing in the first ever Heidelberg College Invitational tournament this weekend. The tournament at the 'Berg could be another chance for the team to continue to jell as a unit. Senior Shannon Hedrick said, "I think it'll be a good time for us to come together to improve our skills as a team and as individuals."