Yellow Jackets Advance to HCAC Semifinals

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  Sophomore Meredith Shank (Maumee/Springfield) had a match-high 14 kills to lead the Defiance College volleyball team past Manchester (Ind.) University, 3-1, in a quarterfinal match of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

Defiance (11-18) came out firing on all cylinders in set one winning by a final of 25-13.  Despite falling behind early in set two, the Jackets fought back to capture the frame, 25-19, to take a commanding 2-0 match lead.  Manchester (10-17) prolonged the match with a victory in set three, 25-19, and looked to continue the momentum with a lead in the fourth set.  But DC rallied again and eventually evened the score on its way to a 25-21 win and a 3-1 overall match victory to advance in the tournament.

Shank led the DC offense with her 14 kills.  Freshman Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta) was second with six kills and sophomore Danielle Robbins (Westland, Mich./Wayne Memorial) was third with five kills.  Junior Ari Mahaffey (Porter, Ind./Chesterton) had a team-best 29 set assists and added three service aces, finishing second on the team in that category.  Windau led all players with a match-high four aces.

On defense, senior Rebecca Kain (Orland, Ind./Prairie Heights) had a match-high 14 digs, followed by junior Makayla Dennis (Bryan) with eight digs and the duo of Mahaffey and junior Dia Jackson (Detroit, Mich./Canton) added five digs.  Junior Hope Neargarder (Union City/Mississinawa Valley) led the Jacket blockers with four assisted blocks.  Shank and Mahaffey were tied for second with a pair of block assists each.

Defiance will advance to the semifinal round of the HCAC Tournament which will be held at Hanover (Ind.) College on Saturday (Nov. 7) in Hanover, Ind.  The Yellow Jackets will take on second-seeded Bluffton University at 5 p.m.