Sommer Center Spiketacular begins with loss to Heidelberg

The Bluffton University volleyball team dropped a three-setter in the 2021 Sommer Center Spiketacular on Friday, Sept. 3. The Beavers fell to 1-1 on the season, while Heidelberg stays perfect at 2-0.

The home team came out on fire in the opener, going up 4-0 on the strength of Courtney Weekley's (Butler/Clear Fork) laser-like serving. Heidelberg responded with a litany of kills and service aces, outscoring Bluffton 25-7 the rest of the way for a convincing 25-11 victory. The Student Princes followed that up with 25-19 and 25-23 victories en route to the sweep.

Junior Kaylie Campbell (Camden/Preble Shawnee) netted eight winners for the Beavers, while senior Cassidy Posey (Paulding) checked in with six. Junior Maddie White (Ashland) dished out 16  helpers.

Senior Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) and White led the defense with 11 and nine digs, respectively. Posey and Weekley both fired a pair of aces on Friday night.

A .009 hitting percentage was too much to overcome as the visitors hit a resounding .280 in their victory. The Student Princes also fashioned an 11-2 advantage in blocks.

Bluffton will be back in action Saturday morning against Ohio Wesleyan at 10 a.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. against Trine, both on court 1 in the Sommer Center.