Jackets Top Adrian, Fall to Transy in Quad Match

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College saw its hopes at a spot in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference take a hit on Saturday with a four-set loss to Transylvania in the first match of the afternoon. The Jackets rebounded to sweep Adrian in a non-conference clash.

DC entered play on Saturday in a tie for fifth in the league standings but was shuffled one win back of the potential sixth and final slot in the upcoming HCAC Tourney with a 18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 loss to TU (19-6, 4-1 HCAC).

Defiance came out strong with 11 kills and three total blocks in the opening set to take the early lead, before seeing its offense cool in the second set. The Jackets were then done in by a pair of slow starts, as they could not dig out of a 6-0 deficit in the third set and an 8-1 shortage in the final set.

Marlea Rolander and Chelsea Ludeman each posted nine kills, while Sara Porter ended with eight in the losing effort. Christa Seidenstricker led a 12-block showing from the Jackets with six block assists and Heather Bradshaw turned in 15 digs.

Defiance rallied back in the second contest of the day to swat Adrian by a 25-17, 25-20, 25-16 margin. The Jackets controlled the net by racking up eight more kills and four more blocks than the Bulldogs, while benefitting from 27 hitting errors from Adrian.

Rolander rattled off nine kills in 20 swings for a .400 hitting percentage and added four blocks to fuel the Defiance charge. Seidenstricker tallied six kills in 10 tries and added three blocks of her own, while Porter recorded three service aces.

Defiance (10-14, 2-3 HCAC) will have a quick turnaround with two more home matches on Sunday. The Jackets will host Hanover (13-10, 2-4 HCAC) in a crucial conference clash at 11:00 am, before taking on Bethany at 3:00 pm.