By Tim Stried, SID

October 18, 1999

The Bluffton College volleyball team dropped a close decision last week on the road in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference to the Grizzlies of Franklin College. Through games of October 18 the Beavers were still looking for their first HCAC victory of the season and post a 9-14 record overall. BC was to have played home matches on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be in action again Saturday at home against Hanover.

The Franklin match on October 16 didn't start very well for the visiting Beavers, but Head Coach Sara Wakefield rallied her troops to knot the match at 2-2 before Franklin won the final game 12-5. The Grizzlies won the first two games 9-15, 12-15 before BC came back to win the next two games 15-9, 15-6. It was another close loss in what has been a roller coaster season for the first year head coach.

Sophomore Mandy Pequignot recorded a team high 12 kills in the match and added 12 digs. Senior Dena Eichelberger rang up a team high 19 digs, while junior Betsy Hook led BC in blocks with six and sophomore Erica Jellison had 31 assists. Junior Alison Harrer recorded 8 kills and 14 digs in the match for BC.

BC was to have hosted Anderson University on Tuesday in a key HCAC match up, and then returned to Founders Hall again on Wednesday for a non-conference date with Adrian College. On Saturday Bluffton will host another strong HCAC foe in Hanover College. The Beavers will have just one more league match after this weekend, that being on Wednesday, October 27 at Wilmington. BC will be at the Calvin Tournament October 29 and 30 before competing in the HCAC Tournament November 5 and 6.