By Meghan Mohr, sports information assistant

Stats http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/volleyball/2012/09-12-vb.htm

The Bluffton University volleyball team came up just short in a non-conference battle with regional-power Thomas More on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012. The Beavers (4-4) fell in three highly-contested sets, 25-23, 25-21, 26-24.

Bluffton never quite got on a roll during the match as communication struggles would not allow the Beavers to establish a flow. Leading the Beaver attack was freshman Kendra Parmenter (Grove City) with nine kills. Two more freshmen followed up with five kills apiece, Jenny Brown (St. Marys/Memorial) and Brooke Ruffer (Stryker). Freshman Mackenzie Lauber (Mansfield/Madison) set up the Beavers with 23 assists.

Senior libero Heather Schierer (Crescent Springs, Ky./St. Henry) scooped up 21 digs, while junior Hailey Phillips (Malinta/Patrick Henry) had 16. Lauber rounded out the Beaver defense with 13 shovels of her own.

On Thursday, the Beavers head to Rochester, New York, for the RIT invite. Bluffton opens up the tournament on Friday at 5 p.m. with the host Rochester Institute of Technology.