Volleyball earns a split at Anderson

ANDERSON, Ind- The Defiance College volleyball team headed to Anderson, Indiana, for two matches against the Ravens. In the first match, counting toward the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings, the Yellow Jackets came up victorious by a score of 3-2 (20-25,25-16, 25-19,19-25, 15-13). Defiance earned a split on the evening as they fell short in the second non-conference match, where the Ravens' won 3-0 (14-25, 20-25,15-25). 

After dropping a close opening set to the Ravens, Defiance rallied back to win the next two, taking a 2-1 set advantage. Anderson came from behind to take the fourth set, sending the match into a fifth and deciding set. Defiance fell behind early but responded with five straight points as the final set saw both sides exchanging blows. Finally, a service ace from senior Morgan Porter was able to seal the HCAC victory for the Yellow Jackets. 

Madison Schoenauer led the Defiance offense tallying a career-best 17 kills. Junior Mackenzie Benham followed close behind with 11 kills, 14 digs, and four service aces. 

As a team, the Yellow Jackets recorded 53 kills, ending with a .132 hitting percentage compared to Anderson, who tallied 51 kills and a .151 hitting percentage. Defiance collected 13 service aces to the Ravens' six. 

Defensively, Porter led Defiance with 23 digs and also recorded ten kills and three service aces. Setter Brianna Wheeler dished out a game-high 42 assists, along with four service aces and three kills. 

The second non-conference match went to the Ravens as Anderson registered 15 service aces, compared to the Yellow Jackets three aces. 

Benham and Schoenauer continued on the attack in the second match, recording five and four kills, respectively. Freshman Hope Yost tallied a game-high 15 digs to lead the Yellow Jacket defense. 

With the split, Defiance sits at 4-7 overall on the season and 3-3 in the HCAC standings. The Yellow Jackets will be back in action this Saturday, February 13, as they travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to battle Transylvania University in a pair of games. The first serve is scheduled for 2:00 pm.