Yellow Jackets Fall to Polar Bears

DEFIANCE, OHIO -- The Defiance College volleyball team dropped a road match at Ohio Northern University in three sets (25-17, 25-16, 25-19) in a non-conference match in Ada, Ohio.

Ohio Northern (15-3) came out with a hot start, taking a quick 8-2 lead to start the match. DC got to within four points at 12-8 with a couple of service aces by sophomore Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta). As the set wore on, a Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonothan Alder) kill got DC to within three at 16-13, but ONU scored six of the next seven points to take a 21-14 lead and went on to take the set, 25-17.

Defiance took a 6-5 lead early in the second set following a kill by freshman Jessica Davis (Bryan). ONU then rallied to take an 11-7 lead and never looked back. After the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to two points, the Polar Bears scored 10 of the final 13 markers of the set to take it 25-16.

After a junior Meredith Shank (Maumee/Springfield) kill to open set number three, Ohio Northern scored quickly and often, taking a lead of 13-7. DC hung around and got to within three points, but would never lead again as ONU took the set 25-19, and the match, 3-0.

The Yellow Jackets were led by Windau on the attack with nine kills and also led the way with three service aces. Defensively, senior Makayla Dennis (Bryan) led the way with 13 digs, while senior Ari Mahaffey (Porter, Ind./Chesterton) finished with 28 assists.

Defiance will open Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play this Saturday, Oct. 1 with a matchup at Franklin, Ind. DC will play the Grizzlies at 1 p.m. and follow that up with a non-conference game with Otterbein University at 3 p.m.