Volleyball Plays Host to Transylvania in HCAC Action

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College volleyball team welcomed Transylvania to the Karl H. Weaner Center for Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon where the Pioneers toppled the Yellow Jackets in straight sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-18).

The Purple and Gold (3-17 overall, 1-5 HCAC) were led on the day by freshman Delaney Monnin (Defiance/Tinora) with a team-best eight kills, hitting .444 on the contest. 

In the opening set, Transylvania rattled off three straight points for the 5-1 advantage before the Purple and Gold attack responded with back-to-back kills by Monnin and freshman Abigail Kennedy (Harrod/Allen East) that tied the contest at 7-7. The Pioneers responded with another short run to regain the 11-7 lead before another Kennedy kill halted the charge. 

DC looked to keep the momentum as a service error and another Monnin kill pulled Defiance within 16-12 but the Pioneers deemed to much as they captured the set one victory, 25-20.

The Pioneers carried the momentum into set two as they surged ahead 8-3. Defiance looked to get something going as a kill by freshman Brianna Wheeler (Sturgis, Mich.) pulled DC within 10-7. However, Transylvania again responded with another run to expand their lead to 21-11. Defiance tried to rally scoring four straight points to cut the deficit to 24-18 before surrendering the sets final point.

In the last set, the Pioneers wasted little time surging ahead to the 3-0 lead off a DC miscue. However, the Yellow Jackets continued to hang around as a Pioneer attacking error pulled Defiance within 11-8. But again, Transylvania used a series of runs to blow the set wide open, 17-9. The Pioneers never looked back claiming the final set 25-18.

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Wednesday, October 17 at Manchester. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.