NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Junior outside hitter Courtney Chowning (Yorktown, Ind.) and freshman middle hitter Hannah Tevis (Royal Center, Ind.) turned in seven kills apiece Wednesday, Oct. 21, but it wasn't enough for Manchester University to overcome a red-hot hitting Bluffton University squad.

The Spartans, slipping to 8-15 overall and 3-5 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, battled the co-league unbeaten Beavers (15-10 overall, 6-0 HCAC) to a back and forth third set after being tripped up 25-15 and 25-10 to open the evening inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. The home team scored the first two points and stayed as close as two (11-9) midway through before BU used a late three-point stretch to break away to a 25-17 decision and close the match.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Pruden (Noblesville, Ind.) (six kills) and fellow senior Morgan Pavelka (Noblesville, Ind.) (four kills), starting in a middle hitter slot next to Tevis, followed the leading duo. Pavelka's .300 attack percentage led the home side; Pruden and Tevis finished with a solo block apiece; and freshman outside hitter Farren Miller (Lebanon, Ind.), stepping into the libero role, guided the back row defense with nine digs.

The visitors turned in a .302 attack percentage, led by the front line duo of MacKenzie McFarlin and Jenny Brown who combined for 23 kills. Brown was also strong on defense with three solo blocks and five block assists.

Manchester University continues a regular-season-ending four-match home stand Saturday, Oct. 24. Huntington University and Governors State College of Illinois come to North Manchester for a triangular, with the Spartans playing the Foresters at 11 a.m. and Governors State at 3 p.m. The seven-member class of 2016 will be honored prior to Saturday's second match.