October 13, 2012
By: Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

BLUFFTON, Ohio - It's Homecoming and the Bluffton University Beavers all took on Heartland Conference opponent Hanover College. The volleyball team struggled mightily against the Panthers who were on fire, losing in three sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-15). With the loss, the Beavers slipped to 12-11 overall (2-2 HCAC).

The Beaver offense never really took off due to poor first contacts the whole match, leaving Bluffton with a high of six kills from senior Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) and freshman Jenny Brown (St. Marys/Memorial). Next in line was Brooke Ruffer (Stryker), who just came back from a foot injury, and junior Bethany Behnfeldt (Napoleon) with five kills each. Freshman setter Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield/Madison) handed out 27 assists.

Defensively, the Beavers had trouble with the Hanover line attack, putting no one in double digits. Juniors Lindsay Krohn (Marysville, Ind./New Washington) and Hailey Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) as well as sophomore Kristyn Hovest (Gilboa/Pandora-Gilboa) all collected seven shovels apiece while Ruffer and Schierer paced the home team with eight digs each.

The Beavers finish off their Homecoming weekend tomorrow in Founders Hall against the HCAC-leading Transylvania University Pioneers at 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-