The Buena Vista volleyball team was on the road Tuesday night to begin its Iowa Conference schedule, but the Beavers came up just short in a four-set thriller at Central College by scores of 25-23, 22-25, 28-26 and 25-22.

Junior Maddie Bardole helped lead the way with 15 kills and 13 digs to go along with three service aces.  Jade Schaap and Nevada Meis each followed with nine kills, including a .412 attack percentage from Meis.  Schaap chipped in with 16 digs and two total blocks.

Laura Barry dished out 22 assists with Kix McArthur right behind at 16.

BVU, the preseason favorites to win the league title, was haunted by the serve throughout the night, as the team finished with 15 service errors in the match.

After being edged in the opening set, the Beavers bounced back nicely in set two, as it took over the set midway through, turning an 8-8 score into a 16-10 advantage.  Central later squeezed back to 19-17, but the Beavers finished strong, going up 23-19 en route to the 25-22 win.

The Beavers fell quickly behind 11-4 in the third before putting together a huge rally.  They were still behind 22-18 late in the match before pulling even at 22-22 on a kill by Jade Schaap.  A bad set by the Dutch then put BVU in front, but a block and kill then gave Central a one-point advantage.  The match was again tied at 24, 25 and 26 before Central rolled off the final two-points to take a 2-1 lead.

BVU rattled off the first three points of the fourth set and continued to lead 8-5 before Central began to slowly take over.  The Dutch tied things up at 8-8 and eventually built a 14-11 lead.  The Beavers would tie the set at 15-15, and it would be back-and-forth from there until the Dutch broke an 18-all tie with three straight points.  BVU tried to stay close, getting within 22-20, but Central was too much in the end.

Buena Vista is now 5-5 overall (0-1 IIAC) while the Dutch improve to 8-2 (1-0 IIAC).  Up next for the Beavers will be the Wartburg College Invite this Friday and Saturday in Waverly before returning home next Tuesday to host 23rd-ranked Coe College at 7:30pm.