STORM LAKE, Iowa (October 9, 2021) - The Buena Vista University volleyball team played its third home match of the week when it hosted Luther College on Saturday afternoon and finished strong en route to a 3-1 victory over the Norse.

Luther came out of the gates and posted 13 kills and only one error in the opening set and was able to hold off the Beavers 25-23.  BVU did get settled in during the second set and held the Norse to only four kills while chalking up 13 of their own en route to a 25-17 triumph. The Beavers then took their first lead after a 25-18 triumph in the third on the strength of 17 kills.  The two teams were then nearly even in the fourth as Luther tried to rally back and force a decisive fifth set but BVU held off the Norse by scoring five of the final eight points after it was tied 20-20.

Senior Sydney McLaren turned in a match-high 19 kills and has just two errors on 49 total swings.  Kaitie Serkiz followed with 13 kills as Hannah Smith added 12 kills, eight digs and a pair of solo blocks.  McLaren notched her ninth double-double of the year by adding 15 digs and also had two blocks.  Taylor Wedemeyer dished out 39 assists with Hays adding six.  Hays also led the way with 18 digs with Molly Bense also in double figures with 14.  Wedemyer and Bense combined for six of the team's seven ace serves.

Emma Kowalczyk turned in 14 kills to help lead the Norse (2-19, 0-6 A-R-C) as Sydnee Schreier and Sarina Stortz each followed with six.

Buena Vista improves to 9-7 overall with the win and 2-3 inside of the A-R-C.  The team will briefly step out of league play on Wednesday night for a non-conference road match at Grinnell College (14-9) that is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.