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Volleyball to travel to Hope College

Submitted by sburgei on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 17:23
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BU volleyball claims first ever conference championship

 
The Bluffton University women’s volleyball team gave a brand new meaning to the saying, “it ain’t over until it’s over” Sunday afternoon. The Beavers battled the Lions of the College of Mount St. Joseph in a thrilling match that went down a decisive fifth set. Bluffton pulled through, winning 3-2 (22-25, 13-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-12).
With the win, the Beavers claimed their first ever Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship along with an automatic bid into the NCAA national tournament. The Beavers will be one out of only 62 teams left in the country to compete in the tournament, placing them among the elite in college volleyball. Heading into the tournament the Beavers are at a 27-5 overall record, including a perfect 8-0 HCAC overall finish.
It was the perfect game-day atmosphere in Founders Hall as the Beaver faithful filled the stands and lined the stage. Despite dropping the first two sets 22-25 and 13-25, the Beavers clawed their way back into the match in a third set that saw no team lead by more than three points. The Beavers also went on to take the fourth set after jumping out to a solid 5-0 start over the Lions. Finally, in set five, after a monster block from Heather Rodman (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) and Nicole Wood (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon), followed by a Wood kill, the Beavers sealed the deal and won the final set 15-12.
For the match, the Beavers saw significant play from key players throughout the stretch of the game. Leading the way for the Beaver attack was outside hitting duo Jenna Eshleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) and Wood, each pounded down 14 kills apiece. They were followed by Allison Streicher(Continental/Continental) with eight kills, Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) with seven kills and Rodman with three kills. Junior setter Shauna Rowland (Bucyrus/Wynford) directed the offense with 39 assists.
In the face of a 30-kill effort from Mt. St. Joseph’s power outside hitter Jamie Grauvogel, the Beavers proved it was their defense that would ultimately help them prevail in the match-up. A plethora of defenders contributed stellar performances. Senior libero Brittany Roth (Findlay/Findlay) led the backline with 18 digs, and she was followed by 12 digs from Kayla Pickering (Jamestown/Greenview) and Streicher, Eshleman and Rowland each scooped up 10 digs. Middle hitters Rodman and Zimmerman conquered at the net as they each had four block assists apiece and two blocks and one block, respectively.
Following the match, the members of the 2009 HCAC All-Tournament Team were named. Jamie Grauvogel and Jess Gadberry from Mount St. Joseph, Anderson University’s Stephanie Weinman, Sara Porter from Defiance College, and Bluffton’s Shauna Rowland and Nicole Wood were honored with all-tournament team accolades, and Bluffton’s own Jenna Eshleman was named the tournament MVP for the weekend.
The Beavers move on to NCAA tournament play this weekend, Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 12-14. In first-round action, Bluffton will take on Ohio Northern at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Hope College in Holland, Mich.

Dr. Lucia Unrau wins Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award

Submitted by sburgei on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 13:59
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Dr. Lucia Unrau, professor of music and music department chair at Bluffton University, was awarded the Ohio Music Teachers Association Collegiate Teacher of the Year award during the annual state conference Nov. 5-7 in Van Wert, Ohio.
 
“I am honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Unrau. “Teaching is very important to me and it’s great to be recognized in this manner.”
 
She was nominated by teachers in the Middle West district which ranges from the Findlay area to Bellefontaine and west to the Indiana border. Unrau is the first Bluffton music faculty member to receive the award.
 
Every spring, each of the eight districts in the state of Ohio nominates a teacher for the state Teacher of the Year award. A winner is selected by outside evaluators. The application process involves collecting letters from former students and colleagues and submitting evidence of community involvement and a teaching philosophy.
 
The Ohio MTA is for music teachers who teach private lessons in any instrument. They promote professionalism in the field and provide resources and continuing education to all teachers.

Volleyball to host tournament for first time in school history

Submitted by sburgei on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:17
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It was a picture-perfect ending to a phenomenal regular season campaign by the Bluffton University Beaver volleyball team on Tuesday, November 3, in Founders Hall. The Beavers swept conference rival Defiance College in three straight sets, 25-15, 25-23 and 25-17. The win gave Bluffton outright ownership of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season crown, the first ever in Bluffton volleyball history. Likewise, because of their sensational efforts this season, the Beavers will play hosts to this year’s HCAC tournament this weekend.
Before the opening serve, three Bluffton seniors were honored for the hard work and dedication to the Beaver volleyball program over the past four years. Michele Rosen (Harrison), Brittany Duff (Wapakoneta), and Brittany Roth (Findlay) have each played an impeccable and irreplaceable role in the success of Beaver volleyball during their tenure.
Pacing the Beaver offense was the outside hitter duo of sophomores Jenna Eshleman (Landisville, Penn./Hempfield) and Nicole Wood (Tiffin/Hopewell-Loudon). Eshleman, who leads the team in kills for the season with 346, swatted 14 kills and Wood, second on the team in kills with 268, slammed down 10 kills of her own. Junior opposite Allison Streicher (Continental) also had eight kills in the effort, followed by the tandem of sophomore middle hitters Heather Rodman (Mansfield/Mansfield Christian) and Courtney Zimmerman (Leesburg/Fairfield) with seven and six kills, respectively. Shauna Rowland (Bucyrus/Wynford) conducted the offense with 37 assists and she also dished out two service aces
Rowland and Eshleman led the defense with 11 digs apiece, while sophomore Mandi Leemaster (Fremont/Old Fort) chipped in 10 digs. Roth, who was honored for her recent ascent to the top of Bluffton's all-time digs list, also scooped up nine digs in the victory.
Bluffton will now gear up to host its first ever Heartland Conference automatic qualifying tournament this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, in Founders Hall.

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