Jackets extend winning streak to three to close opening weekend

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets picked up two more victories on the volleyball court by taking down Governors State in straight sets and Goshen in four at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Saturday. 

The Yellow Jackets (3-1) are out of the gates to their best start since 2019 when they also started 3-1 and are one win shy of matching last year's win total. Defiance sported one of the best showings of the weekend at the Racer Yellow Jacket Classic. Among the seven teams that competed in the Racer Yellow Jacket Classic over the weekend, Defiance was one of three squads to finish the weekend 3-1. Co-host UNOH also went 3-1 on their home floor while Indiana Northwest also won 3 of 4 to start the season.

Game 1 vs. Governors State, W 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-19)

Defiance cruised to the team's second straight three-set sweep against the Governors State Jaguars, who had previously taken down Ohio Christian in three sets to start Saturday's action. DC opened up a large lead in the first set, 22-11, before a late surge by GSU but picked up a trio of kills from Gabby Rodgriguez, Jamia Murray and Jaelyn Tomoletz to close the opening frame. Set 2 went back-and-forth but Defiance only trailed once before taking a four-point win. Set three had a similar feel as the Yellow Jackets turned a 10-10 tie into a 20-13 lead and scored five of the last seven points of the set to finish off the Jaguars.

Rodriguez paced DC's offense with 10 kills followed by Tomoletz with nine. Murray also added seven kills as the team converted on 33 percent of their attacks in the match. Freshman Kaylee Dickinson earned five aces in the service game while Amina Chamoun and Kylie Anderson combined for 32 assists of the team's 34.

Game 2 vs. Goshen, W 3-1 (25-12, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23)
The Yellow Jackets exercised a great deal of mental toughness through the eighth and final match of the two-day tournament. After a dominating first set over Goshen, who earned a five-set win over Ohio Christian prior to facing DC, the next three sets were all decided by a combined seven points. 

Goshen led through the majority of the second set and led by as many as six points in the third set before the Jackets stormed back to grab the momentum. Chaney Brodbeck helped Defiance make up some ground with two kills to while tightening the score to 13-12. The Yellow Jackets did not lead in the third set until the 20-19 mark when Rodriguez slammed a cross-court attack. That was part of a DC rally of four straight points to tip the scales in their direction for a 25-23 win. Set four played out in similar fashion with Defiance chasing the majority of the set. The Maples Leafs held a four-point edge at 15-11 but the Jackets caught fire and rallied to tie the contest at 19-19. Rodriguez picked up a pair of spikes to keep the set tied before dropping back to serve. Defiance took the lead after Tomoletz and Murray combined on a block of a Goshen attack. Tomoletz set up match point two serves later and Brodbeck sealed the win on a cross-court attack.

The trio of Brodbeck (11), Murray (10) and Rodriguez (9) led Defiance in kills during the nightcap.

OTHER GAMES AT DC ON SATURDAY
Governors State def. Ohio Christian, 3-0
Goshen def. Ohio Christian, 3-2

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets travel to Fort Wayne next weekend for the Onset Invitational hosted by Saint Francis. Defiance will tangle with Oakland City, Bethel and USF at Hutzell Athletic Center.

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