DC Loses Both Matches on Final Day of Calvin Invitational

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.  --  The Defiance College volleyball team wrapped up play in the Calvin (Mich.) College Invitational with a pair of losses against No. 3 nationally-ranked Emory (Ga.) University, 3-1, and against John Carroll University, 3-0, in Grand Rapids, Mich.

In the match against Emory, the Eagles won by the scores of 25-17, 21-25, 25-14 and 25-17.  Offensively for Defiance (0-4), sophomore Meredith Shank (Maumee/Springfield) led the attack with 14 kills.  Freshman Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta) was second with seven kills and sophomore Danielle Robbins (Westland, Mich./Wayne Memorial) added six kills.  Junior Ari Mahaffey (Porter, Ind./Chesterton) had all but two of the team's set assists with 29 and also had a match-high six aces.  

Senior Rebecca Kain (Orland, Ind./Prairie Heights) led the defensive effort for the Yellow Jackets with a match-high 19 digs.  Sophomore Jaidyn Patridge (Toledo/Springfield) had six digs and the duo of juniors Makayla Dennis (Bryan) and Dia Jackson (Detroit, Mich./Canton) both recorded five digs.  Up front, Robbins led the way with a pair of block assists.

Against JCU, the Blue Streaks won the match with the scores of 25-19, 25-11 and 25-23.  DC had one player in double figures in kills in Windau with 10.  Shank was second with seven kills and Mahaffey and freshman Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) both added three kills.  Mahaffey picked up right where she left off in the first match setting up the offense tallying a team-high 21 assists.  She was also one of five players to record an ace.

Defensively, Kain had 11 digs and was followed by Dennis with six digs.  Mahaffey and Jackson rounded out the top three with three digs each.  Mahaffey and freshman Caitlyn Meyers (West Alexandria/Twin Valley South) both had a block.

Defiance will next compete in the two-day Penn State-Behrend (Pa.) Tournament next Friday-Saturday, Sept. 11-12 in Erie, Pa.  The Yellow Jackets will begin the tournament with a match against Bethany (W.Va.) College on Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m.  DC will then take on D'Youville (N.Y.) College in the final match of the day at 7:30 p.m.