RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College volleyball team took a four-set win over Bluffton University on Wednesday evening in HCAC action. 

Caylee Brandes led the Quakers with 17 kills, four blocks, and a .314 hitting percentage. Addison Piatt scored 15 kills with 12 digs, two aces and a .282 percentage. Gabby Gerardi scored a career-high 10 kills, swinging .350 with six blocks. 

Ava Walters dished out 32 assists with one ace, and Sydney Bleyle tallied 21 assists. Madison Bizjak led the back line with 27 digs. 

As a team, the Quakers scored 65 kills with a .253 hitting percentage, seven blocks and seven aces. 

The Beavers controlled most of the first set, taking a 20-13 lead over the hosts. Earlham then scored a 10-4 run to tie the set at 23. The teams traded points, but Bluffton capitalized on a kill to win the frame 27-25. 

Earlham then came out to a 6-0 lead in set two, and pulled out to a 12-4 lead. Bluffton came back to make the score 13-8, but the Quakers swung .308 with a match-high 18 kills to win the frame. 

Earlham hit .375 in a set three win after hitting just three errors as a team. The Quakers controlled the momentum to lead 19-8 over Bluffton, and took the set win on a bad set by the Beavers. 

After Bluffton tied the fourth set at 13, Earlham went on to score an 802 run, and lead 21-15. The Beavers fought back, scoring an 8-2 run to tie the match at 23, but the Quakers held out for the set and match win. 

At 4-0, the Quakers share the current lead of the HCAC standings with Mount St. Joseph, who took a five-set win over Hanover on Wednesday. Earlham is set to continue action on Saturday with a tri-match against Manchester and Albion in Druley Performance Gym.