SPRINGFIELD, OH. – Wittenberg's Women's Volleyball team turned in another solid performance against visiting Bluffton on Wednesday, Oct. 9, defeating the Beavers 3-1 in a non-conference match in scores of 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, and 25-15 at Pam Evans Smith Arena, part of the Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex.

It was the ninth win in a row for Wittenberg in the overall series against Bluffton. Wittenberg is 9-6 against the Beavers since 1991. The last time the two teams met was in 2017.

Junior Piper Ricketts (Morrow, OH / Little Miami) put together another dominating offensive attack to lead Wittenberg with 12 kills. She also added two service aces, eight digs, and scored 14.5 points overall.

Wittenberg scored the first point in set one and led the entire game. However, Bluffton fought back in the second set and after four early ties, the Beavers went on 7-0 run to take a 12-5 lead to tie things at 1-all. Both teams traded points tallying nine ties in the third set. However, a Ricketts' kill would give Witt a 14-13 edge and start a 12-2 run that would give the Tigers 22-15 lead that would hold up in game three. Bluffton took the early lead in game four jumping out to a 4-1 start, but the Tigers came back and tied them at 4-all and again at 11-all before a 14-4 run by the Tigers would allow them to capture the win and the match.

It was the third-straight win for the Tigers, who pushed their record to 8-6 overall. Bluffton falls to 13-6. 

Clare O'Malley (Avon, OH / St. Joseph's Academy) added nine kills and 10 points for the Tigers. Celia Orr (Lexington, KY / Frederick Douglass) led the team in assists with 28 and added three digs. Ally White (Harrison, OH / Harrison) led the team in digs with 16, Cam Colahan (Vermilion, OH / Vermilion)recorded 15, and Ava Golem (Kirtland, OH / Kirtland) added 13. 

Team totals for the Tigers included 45 kills, 41 assists, 67 digs, six service aces, and eight blocks. 

Chloei Barnett led the Beavers in kills with 12 and Jenna Woods added 10. Gabby Williams led the team in assists with 29 and Abby Lawhorn recorded a team-high 19 digs. Totals for Bluffton included 36 kills, 33 assists, 73 digs, nine service aces, and four blocks.

The Tigers will be back on the road this Saturday, Oct. 12, at Wilmington to take on both Mount Union and Wilmington at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., respectively.