GRANVILLE -- Bluffton University erased an early deficit to knock off Denison in four sets (19-25, 25-19, 29-27, 25-20) on Friday night at Livingston Gym.

The Big Red strung together a pair of 5-0 runs behind the strong service of Kaileigh Poe and Kristin Thewes to build a 12-5 lead in the opening set. Poe served up an ace in her match-opening burst, while Thewes had two during DU's other surge. The Beavers battled back to shrink the deficit to one before the Big Red methodically extended their lead back to 20-16. Bluffton pulled to within four down the stretch, but a Leah Reinfranck kill, a Hannah Glick service ace and a thunderous finish down the middle by Rachele Lock powered DU to a six-point win.

Denison was playing catchup the entire second set, eventually resulting in Bluffton tying the match at 1-1. The entire third set was a war as neither team led by more than three through the first 24 points. With the match knotted up at 12-12, Erin Weisgarber and MacKenzie McFarlin used efficient service to help string together a 9-1 run that gave Bluffton a 21-13 advantage.

Not to be out done, the Big Red answered that burst with an 11-2 surge that put the home team in front 24-23. Reinfranck and Kristen Brennan served up aces during the charge, while the duo of Lock and Reinfranck combined for three kills and four block assists. The two squads traded off points, pushing the score to 27-27. Once again it was McFarlin and Weisgarber that gave the Big Red fits as they recorded the final two kills of the set.

DU came out aggressive in the fourth as they tried to even the match score. That strong play resulted in a 12-4 lead following a Reinfranck kill. However, the Beavers clawed back and used a 12-3 run to take a one-point lead, forcing Denison to call a timeout. The Big Red kept right with Bluffton, but a 5-1 run clinched the Beaver victory.

Reinfranck posted her second 20-kill performance of the season to go along with seven digs and a team-high three block assists. Lock chipped in 17 kills, while Alex Tubbs added 10 finishers. Poe dished out 46 of the team's 55 assists, while Thewes had three service aces. Defensively, Thewes collected a season-high 37 digs, one shy of her career-best mark. Lock also had 11 digs, while Brennan was credited with 10. Lock and Tubbs had two blocks each.

McFarlin finished with 19 kills, while Bethany Martini logged 11. Weisgarber handed out 39 assists, while libero Sydney Mohler served up three aces and registered 24 digs. Lauren Weisbarger finished with four block assists, while Becca Tourney and Jessie Gibson had three total blocks apiece.

The Big Red falls to 6-11, while the Beavers improve to 13-7. Denison completes is three-match homestand on Wednesday when they host Muskingum at 7 p.m.