Ludeman hits 1,000 career kills, as DC splits weekend tri-match

HIRAM, Ohio – The Defiance College volleyball team had its five-game winning streak snapped Saturday, September 14, as it was defeated in five sets by the Hiram Terriers. However, DC rebounded to win the second match in four sets against the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets. The Purple and Gold now sit at 9-3 on the 2013 campaign.

In the first match of the afternoon, it was a tail of up and down play by the Jackets. The two sets they won were relatively dominant, as they took the first (25-13) and the third (25-20). Unfortunately, DC really struggled in the second (17-25) and fourth (13-25) to send the match into a final fifth frame, where it fell to the host Terriers (10-15).

Senior Alexis Pierce had one of her best outings of the season, as the middle blocker racked up 18 kills on a .467 attack percentage. Fellow senior Chelsea Ludeman added 15 kills, junior Alicia Kalik had 36 assists and sophomore Rebecca Kain led the team with 14 digs. Freshman Kelsey Tietje was solid defensively, notching five total blocks.

For the second game of play, the Purple and Gold regrouped and put together a solid 3-1 victory over B-W. The Jackets won the first two sets handedly by scored of 25-20 and 25-15, but then dropped a close one in the third 24-26.  However, DC rebounded with a convincing 25-16 win in the fourth set to take the match.

In the victory, Ludeman led the squad with 22 kills and passed the 1,000 career kill mark in the process. This was the outside hitter's third game this season with 20 or more kills. Ludeman also was solid defensively with 21 digs. Setting up for a good amount of those kills was Kalik, who came away with 46 assists.

Defiance will have the week off and return to play next weekend, when it travels to Alliance, Ohio to take on Ohio Athletic Conference foes Mount Union and the Wilmington. The Yellow Jackets are slated to up against the Quakers at 3 pm and then battle with the host Purple Raiders at 5 pm.