Volleyball Wins DC Invitational, Rolander Named MVP

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College won its volleyball invitational for the second-straight year and the third time since 2005 by notching a pair of 3-0 victories over Concordia and Marygrove on Saturday. With the two victories, the Jackets ended the 2009 DC Invitational as the lone 4-0 team in the five-squad field.

Defiance opened the action on Saturday with a key showdown with Concordia and recovered from a slow start to score the 26-24, 25-13, 25-22 victory. Danyel Lipps led the way with 14 kills, six blocks and seven digs, while Marlea Rolander and Jessica Tietje continued their dominant play at the net by each recording six blocks.

The Yellow Jackets did not slow down in the final match of the two-day tournament and bounced Marygrove by a 25-13, 25-12, 25-11 score. DC was hitting on all cylinders en route to sealing the DC Invitational Championship and posted a .377 hitting percentage by collecting 26 kills and only three miscues in 61 swings.

Rolander and Tietje each had six kills in 11 swings without committing an error, while Ashlyn Howell ended with five kills and no errors in 11 chances. Sara Porter rounded out a strong tournament showing with a team-high 11 digs.

Rolander was named the 2009 DC Invitational Scotty's Club 111 Most Valuable Player after posting 26 kills, three aces and 17 total blocks in the four wins. The sophomore middle blocker was joined on the all-tournament squad by Lipps and Porter, who combined for 60 kills, 10 service aces and 83 digs.

Also making the DC Invitational Scotty's Club 111 All-Tournament Team were Alyssa Schroeder of Huntington, Ashley Hart of Concordia, Melissa Hall of Siena Heights and Shannon Pietruszka of Marygrove.

Defiance (6-3) will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts a talented No. 29 Heidelberg squad on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.