Oct. 5, 2013

Stats<http://www.bluffton.edu/athletics/volleyball/2013/10-05-vb.htm>

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Bluffton University volleyball team made the long trip to Terre Haute, Ind. for its Heartland Conference opener with a talented Rose-Hulman squad on Saturday, Oct. 5. Bluffton found the 5 p.m. start time to its liking after a 25-15 setback in the lidlifter. The Beavers claimed three of the next four sets, including a 15-13 victory in the fifth for a crucial conference road win.

A 25-19 victory by Bluffton in set two evened the match and gave the Beavers confidence that they could match up with a powerful Rose team that is just two years removed from a Heartland Conference tournament championship. The visitors built a 17-11 lead in the third set and held on for the 2-1 advantage courtesy of a 25-21 win. RHIT pulled out a slim 25-23 victory to knot the match at two sets apiece before Bluffton fought back to claim the match with a 15-13 margin in the rubber set.

Sophomore spikers Kendra Parmenter (Grove City) and Jenny Brown (St. Marys/Memorial) paced a balanced Bluffton attack with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Lauren Weisgarber (Bolivar/Tuscarawas Valley) and Brooke Ruffer (Stryker) added nine and eight kills, respectively, while freshmen MacKenzie McFarlin (Ashland) and Adrienne Shepard (Arlington) chipped in with seven and six kills.

Sara Roth (Findlay/Van Buren) and Ruffer set up the offense with 22 and 21 assists, while Ruffer added three service aces for the victors. Brown was a force at the net with four solo blocks and two block assists, while Weisgarber and Parmenter were in on three blocks apiece. Senior libero Hailey Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) paced the back row with nine digs.

Bluffton continues with its meat grinder schedule when the Beavers travel to Cincinnati for a matchup with pre-season HCAC favorite Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The contest is slated for 7 p.m.