HANOVER, Ind. — For the third straight season the Bluffton University’s volleyball team earned the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship on Sunday.
Bluffton took down the top seed and tournament host Hanover College, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-23).
The Beavers earned the HCAC’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division III national tournament.
Bluffton is 19-12, while Hanover is 23-9.
Now with the HCAC title again, the Beavers will await their NCAA matchup and where the Midwest Regional will be played.
With the first game tied at 13, Bluffton rolled off eight of the next 11 points to take control at 21-16. Three late Kendra Parmenter kills helped Bluffton put set one away as a Sydney Mohler (Lima Central Catholic) ace finished it at 25-18.
Bluffton was down 14-8 in the second set, but rallied to pull out a 25-23 victory.
Hanover was well on its way to forcing a fourth set, opening up a 17-11 cushion, and still in control at 23-20 before five straight Bluffton points ended the Panthers’ season.
Kendra Parmenter and Erin Weisgarber were both named to the all-tournament team, while Jenny Brown (St. Marys) was named HCAC tournament’s most valuable player.
Weisgarber directed the offense with 39 assists and one kill. Parmenter led the front line with 11 kills, while Brown had 10 kills.
Libero Mohler finished the match with 20 digs and two service aces, while Weisgarber chipped in with seven digs and five blocks, including two solos.
The Beavers will find out their opponent and site for the NCAA Tournament at 11 a.m. today.
