DC defeats Berg for first time since 2004 on Kalik's 60 assists

TIFFIN, Ohio – It was a monumental night for the Lady Jackets volleyball program, as the team got over the hump and defeated the Heidelberg Student Princes 3-2 on Tuesday, September 10. It was the squad's first win against the Ohio Athletic Conference foe in nine years. With the victory, DC bumps its record to an outstanding 8-2 on the year, while Heidelberg drops to 2-5.

The Purple and Gold got off to a fast start in set one, as it jumped out to a 12-6 lead, after back-to-back kills by senior Christa Seidenstricker on assists from junior Alicia Kalik. Heidelberg then quickly caught up and evened things out at 15-15. Fortunately, the momentum shifted back in DC's favor and it went on a 10-4 run to take the first set 25-19.

After an even 6-6 score 12 points into the second frame, the Berg found its groove and ran away from the Jackets. The home team went up by scores of 12-7, 21-14 and then to a final of 25-15 that evened out the match at 1-1.

The poor play in the second set did not sit well with Defiance, as it lit a fire underneath the team that led to a huge offensive burst in the first 16 points of the third set. Eight kills, including three by senior Alexis Pierce put DC up by scores of 7-1 and 12-4 early. Heidelberg tried to cut into the deficit, but the closest the team could come within was five points, as the Jackets marched on to a dominating 25-14 set victory.

With a pivotal fourth set on the line, both teams turned things up a notch. Play was even early at 6-6 and continued all the way to a 15-15 tie. The action was tight on both ends, but the Berg found a rhythm and extended a lead to three at 19-16 and later to 24-21. With set point on the line, the Purple and Gold chalked up three-straight points to tie the match at 24-24. Unfortunately, the Student Princes put together some clutch offense that generated three kills and used a DC attack error to clinch the fourth set 28-26.

The momentum had shifted back to the home side and it took advantage of it to begin the fifth set, going up 3-0 right off the bat. DC then responded with a five-point spurt of its own, using a pair of Kalik to Pierce kills that put it back on top 5-3. Both team's then fought to an 8-8 tie and set the stage for who was going to make that final push and it was the Lady Jackets. Back-to-back points put Defiance up 10-8 and then each team traded points until Pierce swatted the game-willing kill that gave DC the set 15-13 and the match victory 3-2.

It was almost nine years to the day when the Jackets last defeated the Student Princes, as the 3-0 victory came on September 7, 2004. In the Purple and Gold's eight-straight losses to Heidelberg, it had only won three sets total to the Bergs 24.  

However, it was not just a huge day for Lady Jacket volleyball team. Junior setter Alicia Kalik brought her A-game as well and totaled an incredible 60 assists, to go along with 12 digs and three kills. The amount blew away her previous career high of 47 that she recorded on three occasions in 2012.

As a whole, the offense played fantastic together notching five players with 10 or more kills led by Pierce's 19 on a .395 attack percentage. The defense was just as solid with four individuals racking up 10 or more digs, including sophomore Rebecca Kain's game high of 20.

The DC volleyball team will return to the road this weekend, as it heads to Hiram for a tri-match with the Terriers and the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets on Saturday, September 14. Defiance will face off with Hiram at 1 pm, followed by BW at 3 pm.