HCAC Tabs Four Yellow Jackets as Players to Watch

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has released its preseason coaches' poll and Defiance College is placed sixth out of the ten squads. The Purple and Gold received 48 points from the conference coaches. Hanover received the top spot with 88 points followed by Transylvania (86) and Bluffton (76).

The HCAC coaches highlighted four Jackets that could make a big impact on the 2012 season. Junior outside hitters Chelsea Ludeman and Alexis Pierce received the preseason accolades along with sophomore setter Alicia Kalik and junior libero Christa Seidenstricker.

Ludeman was a leader in the Jackets' attack last season, as the junior averaged a team high 2.29 kills per set and recorded three matches with an attacking percentage of over .500 while having at least nine kills in each match. The Napoleon native also achieved HCAC Academic All-Conference Team status for her performance in the classroom.

Another key junior in this year's squad will be Pierce, who played in 108 sets as a sophomore and earned 27 starts for DC. Pierce was an impact performer on the attack and on defense. During the 2011 season, the Wauseon product had the second most blocks on the season with 91 and was fourth in kills with 156. Pierce earned HCAC Academic All-Conference honors for the 2011 campaign.

The most decorated returner from the 2011 team is Kalik, who was the HCAC Freshman-of-the-Year recipient. The setter led the team in assists and ranked third in the conference in assists per set with an average of 8.08. The sophomore also led the team in aces with 30. Other honors the South Lyon standout earned include DC Invitational All-Tournament Team, HCAC All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-HCAC.

The Yellow Jackets will look to Seidenstricker to lead the team's defense in the upcoming season. The junior averaged the second highest digs per set average with a clip 2.46. Seidenstricker was named to the DC Invitational All-Tournament Team after a standout defensive showing over the four matches. The junior also received HCAC Academic All-Conference.

These four women will lead Defiance in the team's first match of the season at the Kalamazoo Tournament. The first day of the tournament is Friday, August 31 and will be played in Kalamazoo, Mich. Match times have not yet been announced.