Oct. 9, 2013

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bluffton University volleyball team was looking to make a statement at Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, Oct. 9, but the Lions held on for the four-set victory. Bluffton dipped to 9-13 overall and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference, while MSJ improved to 10-13 and 2-1 in the HCAC.

Bluffton had the first set in its sights, up 20-18 late, but the home team rolled off seven of the next 10 points for a crucial 1-0 lead over the Beavers. The Lions went out to a 17-9 lead in set two and never looked back in steamrolling to a 25-16 victory. Unfazed by the two-set hole, the Beavers built a 16-10 lead en route to the 25-21 win over MSJ. The visitors were within a point (18-17) in the clincher before Mount put the match on ice with a 7-3 spurt that capped the Mount St. Joseph victory.

Sophomore middle Jenny Brown (St. Marys/Memorial) cleaned up at the net with 11 kills, two solo blocks and four block assists while hitting at a blistering .529 clip. Also efficient up front was freshman Adrienne Shepard (Arlington) who hit .500 with four spikes. Kendra Parmenter (Grove City) and MacKenzie McFarlin (Mansfield) added seven kills apiece.

Brooke Ruffer (Stryker), who also pounded six kills, set up the Bluffton hitters with 26 assists and she fired a pair of service aces. Hailey Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) paced the Bluffton defense with 14 digs, while fellow senior Lindsay Krohn (Marysville, Ind./New Washington) chipped in with eight pickups.

Bluffton returns to the Sommer Center exactly one month to the day since it last played a home match when the Beavers face an up-and-coming Franklin College squad on Friday, Oct. 11. The matchup with the Grizzlies will serve to kick off Homecoming weekend on the campus of Bluffton University. Also in town this weekend is the football team which will play host to Rose-Hulman at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in Salzman Stadium.

-BEAVERS-