WAVERLY, Iowa (Oct. 1, 2024) - The Buena Vista University volleyball team opened American Rivers Conference play on Tuesday night at Wartburg College, but it was the Knights holding off the Beavers to win in three sets by scores of 25-9, 25-17, 26-24.

Wartburg (11-5, 1-0 A-R-C) began with 11 kills and only one error in the opening set to go along with five serving aces. BVU was held to four kills and had five errors in the set with four of those attack errors came during a 10-0 run by the Knights that broke a 2-2 tie. The Beavers fell behind 6-1 early in the second set, but three straight attack errors by the Knights brought the team back within 7-5. Wartburg, however, took over from there, using a 16-8 surge to build a 10-point lead. 

The third set was back-and-forth from the start with neither team building more than a three-point lead. BVU appeared in control late with a 23-20 advantage after an attack error by Wartburg and a service ace from Jadyn Rausch. Despite the Knights rallying to tie things up at 23-23, the Beavers faced set point after a kill from Merced Ramirez but a kill from the Knights, followed by two straight attack errors by the Beavers, finished off the match.

Fifth-year senior Rachel Brockney had a strong night for the Beavers in a losing effort with eight kills and eight digs. She finished with no attack errors on 26 swings en route to a .308 percentage. Reese Nieuwenhuis, along with Rausch, turned in four kills with Rausch also contributing 15 assists and eight digs. Junior Mallory Ignaszewski turned in a team-high 13 digs while chipping in with four assists.

Buena Vista is now 5-13 overall (0-1 A-R-C) and will travel to Luther College on Oct. 11.