Yellow Jackets Fall in Five Set Thriller

CINCINNATI, OHIO - The Defiance College volleyball team headed to Mt. St. Joseph on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets battled to five sets against the Lions, but ultimately fell 3-2 (15-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-12, 11-15). 

The Lions were off to a quick start, taking five of the first six points in the opening set. A handful of kills from the Yellow Jackets quickly evened up the contest. Coming within one point on numerous occasions during the opening set, the Yellow Jackets were never quite able to take the lead. 

The second set of action saw a similar start for the sides, with the Lions jumping out to a small lead. Down 10-11 the Yellow Jackets earned three straight points to take their first lead of the match. The Purple and Gold continued to lead up to a 22-21 scoreline. An error and three straight kills from the Lions gave Mt. St. Joseph the two set advantage. 

Head Coach Brie Brenner's team was not going down in the third set easily. After a close start, a kill from Jessi Davis (Delta / Delta) gave the Yellow Jackets a 13-9 lead. The Lions rallied later in the set, ultimately tieing the contest 23-23. Another Davis kill gave the Yellow Jackets set point before the Lions matched the 24 point scoreline. A handful of attacking errors from the hosts allowed Defiance to pull away and win the second set 27-25. 

With momentum on their side the Purple and Gold jumped to a quick start in the fourth set. A kill from Delaney Monnin (Defiance / Tinora) extended the lead to 6-1 for DC, and the Yellow Jackets never looked back. Up 11-4 Brooke Plummer (Plain City / Jonathan Alder) earned a kill to force the Lions into a timeout. With a 20-12 lead the Yellow Jackets used a couple attacking errors, two kills from Plummer, and a set winning kill from Cassidy Posey (Paulding / Paulding) to even the score up at two sets a piece. 

Heading into the fifth and final set, the Lions were able to begin with a 3-0 lead. Later in the decisive set, down 6-12 the Yellow Jackets were able to rally to a 9-12 scoreline via kills from Plummer, Mackenzie Benham (Marshall, Mich. / Marshall), and Emma Seitz (Toledo / Central Catholic). The Lions attack proved too much to handle as Mt. St. Joseph was able to pull away to win the set 11-15. 

On the day, Morgan Porter (Defiance / Defiance) led the way in the digs category for the Yellow Jackets, adding 37 to her team leading 399 on the season. Monnin added 11 kills in the five set loss, while Abigail Cronin (Lambertville, Mich. / Cardinal Stritch Catholic) added two service aces. 

The loss brings Defiance's record to 3-15 overall and 1-3 in the HCAC. Defiance is next in action Wednesday, Oct. 10 as they welcome in HCAC rival Bluffton to the Karl H. Weaner Center for a 7:00 pm start time.