Volleyball Stifled at Albion

ALBION, MICH. - The Yellow Jacket volleyball team fell in straight sets on Wednesday evening as they traveled to Albion, Mich. to take on the Britons. The Purple and Gold were led on the day by sophomore Morgan Porter (Defiance) with a team-high 18 digs. Freshman Jamie DeTro (Angola, Ind./Prairie Heights) added 12 assists for DC.

In the opening set, Defiance (0-5 overall) went on top early as senior Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) came out firing landing back-to-back kills giving DC the 5-2 advantage. Albion responded, slowly chipping away at the Purple and Gold advantage before capitalizing on an attacking error by DC junior Emma Seitz (Toledo/Central Catholic) that knotted the set at 9-9. This was just the momentum swing the Britons needed as they formed a rally of their own to take their first lead of the contest 19-12. They continued on the attack late in the set as they stifled the Defiance offense and claimed set one, 25-17.

The Yellow Jackets looked to get something going in set two as senior Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta) went on the attack connecting for back-to-back kills cutting the deficit to 4-3. The two teams continued to exchange points before DC was able to tie the set at 7-7 following a service ace by junior Jessi Davis (Delta). However, Albion responded once again as they regained the lead off a Defiance miscue. 

Freshman Brianna Wheeler (Sturgis, Mich.) found freshman Delaney Monnin (Defiance/Tinora) on the next point to stop the charging Britons and pull the Purple and Gold back within two, 10-8. Defiance continued to hang around as a kill by Seitz and an attacking error by the Albion hitters tied the set once more at 13-13. The Britons again deemed to much as they rattled off six straight points to seal the 25-18 set two victory. 

In the final set, Albion wasted little time as a series of kills gave the Britons the 6-2 advantage. DC attempted to claw their way back in as a kill by Monnin and another Britons miscue pulled the Yellow Jackets within 11-7. But again it wasn't enough as Albion stole the momentum back and pushed its lead to 18-8. The Purple and Gold got hot late in the set notching three straight points off the attack of Davis that cut the advantage to 21-18. However, Albion was able to combat the Yellow Jackets and hold on for the straight set victory, 25-19. 

Defiance returns to action this weekend, Sept. 7-8 as they compete at the Case Western Reserve Invitational. They open the weekend with Hiram on Friday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 pm.