Volleyball Stings Grizzlies in Five Set Thriller

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College volleyball team opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play against Franklin College, winning a five set thriller (19-25, 25-20, 25-18, 17-25, 17-15) at the Karl H. Weaner Center Saturday afternoon. 

The Defiance (6-8, 1-0) attack was led by junior Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta) with a team-best 16 kills and sophomore Madison Hollis (Burlington, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) with a team-high 16 assists. On the defensive side, senior Jaidyn Patridge (Toledo/Springfield) had another impressive game tallying a game-high 48 digs.

The two teams exchanged points for much of set five before a pair of attacking miscues and a service ace by senior Sydney Unger (Frankfort, Ind./Clinton Central) gave DC the 5-8 lead. The Grizzlies clawed their way back tying the set a 13-13 following a Yellow Jacket miscue. Defiance found themselves trailing late, 14-13, before Hollis connected with sophomore Emma Seitz (Toledo/Central Catholic) for a momentum shifting kill. Seitz continued to dominate at the net landing another kill to seal the DC home victory. 

Franklin (10-6, 0-2) dominated much of set one, surging ahead early using back-to-back kills by Jenna Spini to claim the 16-10 advantage. The Grizzlies continued on the attack claiming its largest lead of the set en route to the 25-19 win. 

The Yellow Jacket swarmed in set two rattling off the first five points of the set led by kills from sophomore Jessi Davis (Delta) and freshman Morgan Porter (Defiance). However, Franklin slowly chipped away at the DC lead using a four point rally moments later to tie the set, 13-13. After exchanging several points, the Defiance attack came alive as junior Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) connected on a thunderous kill to cap-off a three point rally en route to the win. 

Defiance carried the energy into set three as a kill by Windau gave the Yellow Jackets the 7-3 advantage. Windau continued to be on a mission as she recorded back-to-back kills sparking a DC four point rally to claim the set, 25-18.

With their backs against the wall in set four, the Grizzlies came out fighting jumping to a 15-5 lead. DC would cut the deficit to 22-17 before Brooke Harvey landed three kills to force a set five. 

The Yellow Jackets claimed set five 17-15, recording seven kills.

Defiance returns to action Wednesday, October 4 as they travel to Earlham. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.