Tri-Match Action Sees Volleyball Defeated at Home

DEFIANCE, Ohio - A busy day in the Karl H. Weaner Center saw Defiance College volleyball host both Transylvania University and Olivet College in tri-match action. The Yellow Jackets fell to the nationally ranked Pioneers 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17) before dropping the affair with the Comets 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 27-25). 

Transylvania, currently ranked at No. 23 in the nation, began the action with an opening set victory before the Yellow Jackets looked to create some havoc against the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe. 

A tight second set saw neither side pull ahead by a margin larger than three as they battled down to the wire in an energetic Weaner Center. After a slight comeback from the Pioneers to knot the score at 23, the Yellow Jackets closed out the set 25-23. 

The Pioneers showed their power the rest of the way as they were able to fend off DC to solidify the conference win. 

After a showdown between the visiting schools, Coach Brie Brenner's side took to the court in the nightcap as they faced off with MIAA foe, Olivet. 

The third set saw the Yellow Jackets' closest shot at victory as DC looked to rally. A late push from Defiance saw Brianna Wheeler (Sturgis, Mich./Sturgis) and Delaney Monnin (Defiance/Tinora) record kills to set the third set up at 24-24. Despite another Monnin kill down the stretch, the Comets were able to prevail with a 27-25 scoreline to wrap up the evening. 

Offensively, Monnin led the Purple and Gold with 25 kills over her seven sets of action, equating to a team-high 3.57 attacking percentage. The sophomore also threw in five digs over the course of the day. 

Senior teammate Jessi Davis (Delta/Delta) followed Monnin with 19 kills of her own. The Delta native also recorded four assisted blocks to help the Yellow Jacket defense along. 

Defensively, Morgan Porter (Defiance/Defiance) led the way with 48 digs and a 6.86 digs per set mark. The junior currently ranks second in both digs (610) and digs per set (6.42) in the HCAC. 

Alexis Kiessling (Defiance/Defiance) and Mackenzie Benham (Marshall, Mich./Marshall) followed their junior counterpart with 23 digs each. 

At the net, Benham and Mackenzie Umbaugh (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) led the Purple and Gold with five total blocks each to contribute to the team's 11 on the day. 

With the pair of defeats, Defiance falls to 15-11 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Yellow Jackets will return to action Wednesday, October 30, as they travel to Bluffton for the regular season's penultimate matchup. Action with the rival Beavers is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm.