Yellow Jackets Swept by Nationally Ranked Opponents

ADA, OHIO - The Defiance College volleyball team was swept on day two of the ONU Invitational as they fell to nationally ranked Ohio Northern, 3-0 and Carnegie Mellon, 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.

The Purple and Gold opened the final day of the invitational with host #19 Ohio Northern who claimed the contest in straight sets (25-16, 25-15, 25-14). The two teams exchanged points early in the opening set as a kill by freshman Mackenzie Benham (Marshall, Mich.) gave DC the 9-8 advantage. However, the Polar Bears would respond with a short rally to regain the lead 14-11. ONU carried the momentum into the remainder of the set as they used back-to-back kills and a DC miscue to claim set one. 

In set two, Northern ran away early rattling off four straight points before DC could respond. The Purple and Gold looked to rally as back-to-back kills by junior Emma Seitz (Toledo/Central Catholic) and Benham cut the deficit to 6-3 but once again the Polar Bears deemed to much as they strung together a series of rallies to claim set two, 25-15. 

The Yellow Jackets continued to battle in the final set as a pair of ONU ball handling errors and a kill by freshman Jamie DeTro (Angola, Ind.) gave DC the 3-0 advantage. However, the Polar Bears hung around as they clawed their way back into the contest tying it at 6-6. 

Freshman Delaney Monnin (Defiance/Tinora) went on the attack for Defiance as she landed a kill that once again tied the contest. The two teams would continue to exchange several points before another late rally by Northern sealed the set and match victory.

DC was led in the contest by Benham with five kills, while sophomore Morgan Porter (Defiance) tallied a team-best 18 digs. 

In the night cap for Defiance, the Purple and Gold fell to #15 Carnegie Mellon 25-23, 23-25, 14-25, 15-25. 

The Yellow Jackets came out looking for revenge as back-to-back kills by senior Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) gave DC the 8-7 advantage. They continued on the attack using a short rally led by Monnin to extend their lead to 12-9. CMU rallied back tying the contest at 16-16 before another kill by Monnin and a set of Carnegie miscues pushed the lead to 20-17. Defiance rattled off the final five points including a service ace by DeTro to seal the set one victory.

CMU looked to steal the energy early in set two as they strung together a series of runs to blow the set wide open, 11-3. However, the Yellow Jackets tried to bring the sting once more as a kill by Seitz cut the deficit to 23-21. Despite a pair of miscues, Carnegie Mellon was able to land a kill and halt the charging Jackets and tie the contest at one set a piece.

In the third set, the two teams continued to be at a dead lock as a kill by Plummer pulled DC within 9-8. CMU though turned up the intensity as it strung together a 7-0 run that would eventually lead to the set three victory.

Carnegie Mellon deemed to much in the final set as they again used their explosive attack to claim the set and match victory.

The Yellow Jackets were led in the contest by Seitz and Plummer with nine kills a piece. Porter added a team-high 20 digs.

Defiance returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 5 as they travel to Albion. Game time is set for 6:30 pm.