WINONA, Minn. (Sept. 5, 2025) - The Buena Vista University volleyball team is taking part in the Sugar Loaf Classic hosted by St. Mary's University (MN) this weekend, and began play on Friday night with a hard fought 3-0 loss against Wheaton College.

The two teams went neck-and-neck throughout the first two sets with Wheaton taking the opener, 25-20, before rallying late in the second to tie the match at 24-24 before prevailing 29-27. Wheaton jumped out to an early 10-5 lead in the third and would go on and roll to a 25-12 victory.

Junior Hope Vanderlinden turned in a season-best 10 kills to help pace the Beavers marking her first double-digit attack performance since Aug. 31 of last season. Freshman Charley Hernandez (7) and sophomore Ashlyne Havermann (6) were right behind. Vanderlinden had only two errors on 22 total attempts which resulted in a .364 attack percentage. Hernandez also chipped in with nine digs with Havermann adding six. Sophomore Merced Ramirez led the team with 16 digs while freshman Faith Fitzgerald made her collegiate debut and dished out 16 assists.

BVU came out and posted 13 kills in each of the first two sets but was held to only six in the third. Wheaton, meanwhile registered double-digit kills in each set, including a match-high 17 in the second.

Jordan Benford turned in a match-high 14 kills to help lead the way for Wheaton (4-0) as five players finished with at least six kills overall.

Buena Vista dips to 2-3 on the year and looks to bounce back on Saturday when it faces Bethany Lutheran College at 9 a.m. and St. Mary's University at 11 a.m.