By Scott Van Eman, SID Assistant
9-15-03
The volleyball team entered their third week of play at the Cardinal Classic at Otterbein College. The tournament was held last Friday and Saturday and included teams from Bluffton, Heidelberg, Thiel, Capital and Otterbein. The Beavers posted wins over Thiel and Otterbein in tournament action and losses to Heidelberg and Capital. Bluffton has tallied a 6-7 overall record this season.
Bluffton first met Heidelberg in tournament action, falling 3-1. Keri Kuhlman and Karah Weldy each notched nine kills in the losing effort. The Beavers quickly rebounded in their match, sweeping Thiel 3-0. Keri Kuhlman once again led the Bluffton offensive attack with 11 kills while Karah Weldy provided 14 digs. Bluffton also recorded 11 service aces in the match. The Beavers cared the momentum from the win over Thiel to their match against Otterbein, winning 3-1. The Beavers displayed a balanced overall game attack with four players recording nine kills and three players recording 28 digs or more. The team also maintained their solid serving game, recording seven aces. The last match of the tournament matched Bluffton against Capital. Capital was able to take the match 3-1 despite Bluffton’s 49 team kills and 119 team digs. Bluffton finished the tournament with a 2-2 record and third place for the tourney.
Keri Kuhlman is among Bluffton’s leaders this season totaling 109 total kills for 2.37 average kills per game. Senior Erin Cooper has been Bluffton’s most steady setter providing 267 assists thus far. Defensively, Bluffton is lead by Karah Weldy who has accumulated a team leading 228 digs this season.
Bluffton will travel to Manchester this Tuesday for their first Heartland Conference game of the season before returning to Bluffton for a home match-up against Marietta this Friday at 6:30 p.m.
