August 31, 2012
By: Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

MARIETTA, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team started out with a three-set victory over the Hornets of Waynesburg University (25-20, 25-6, 25-19) on Friday, August 31. First timers Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield/Madison Comprehensive), Kendra Parmenter (Grove City/Grove City), Jenny Brown (St. Marys/Memorial) and Brooke Ruffer (Stryker) all put down their first collegiate kills in the opener. 

Lauber tallied four kills and eight blocks while Parmenter hammered five kills with two blocks. Brown tallied six kills and five blocks and Ruffer rounded it out with five kills and one block. Senior BROOKe Distel (Carey) started her last season out in a flourish with seven kills and no errors on 11 attempts, hitting .636 with six total blocks. 

The offense was set up by Kyleigh Whitsel (Sheffield Lake/Brookside) with 12 assists and Lauber with 15 assists. Defensively, the Beavers were led by senior Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) with 10 scoops, junior Lindsay Krohn (Marysville, Ind./New Washington) with nine digs and junior Hailey Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) with eight. 

Bluffton lost in a nail-biting four-setter (27-25, 16-25, 22-25, 23-25) to tournament host Marietta College in the nightcap. Parmenter was on fire, leading the Beavers with 12 kills, followed by Lauber with 10 kills, Distel with eight, Ruffer with six and Brown with five kills. Lauber fashioned her first career double-double, adding 25 assists to her 10 bombs. Whitsel handed out 14 assists to the team effort. Defensively, Schierer picked up an impressive 24 digs, followed by Krohn with 15 shovels and 13 from Phillips. 

On Saturday, Sept. 1, Bluffton takes on Ohio Valley at 10:30 a.m. The Beavers are now 1-1 on the season.

-BEAVERS-