Late Rally Falls Short in Home Opener with Heidelberg

DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Defiance College volleyball teams late rally fell short as the Purple and Gold fell in their home opener with Heidelberg, 3-1 (21-25, 16-25, 25-23, 22-25) on Tuesday evening at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

Defiance (1-8 overall) tallied 50 kills in the contest for a .244 hitting percentage led by freshman Delaney Monnin (Defiance/Tinora) with a team-high 11 kills. Sophomore Morgan Porter (Defiance) added 17 digs, while freshman Jamie DeTro (Angola, Ind./Prairie Heights) chipped in 10 digs for the Yellow Jackets.

In the opening set, Defiance found themselves trailing early as a three point rally gave the Student Princes the 6-3 advantage. The Purple and Gold remained poise and slowly begin to chip at the lead as a kill by junior Jessi Davis (Delta) pulled DC within 11-10. However, Heidelberg turned up the intensity as they rattled off seven straight points to blow the set wide open, 22-14. The Yellow Jackets would look to swarm late as back-to-back kills by junior Emma Seitz (Toledo/Central Catholic) pulled DC within 23-21 but Heidelberg deemed too much.

Senior Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta) looked to spark the offense in set two as she connected for a kill that pulled the Purple and Gold within 5-4. The two teams would exchange points for much of the set before another Heidelberg rally extended the advantage, 15-8. The Yellow Jackets continued to hang around stringing together a brief run of their own, led by freshman Mackenzie Benham (Marshall, Mich.), to cut the deficit, 19-13. However, a DC miscue late in the set would surrender the serve and the set point.

Defiance stole the momentum in set three as it rattled off the first four points to take the early advantage, 4-0. However, Heidelberg stormed back moments later taking the 11-6 lead. Defiance continued to battle as a kill by Davis and a Berg attacking error tied the contest once more, 16-16. The two teams continued to exchange points before a kill by Windau sealed the set three victory.

In the final set, Defiance played from behind early as Heidelberg claimed the 5-3 advantage following back-to-back kills. DC tried to get something going as Monnin connected for a kill that placed the Yellow Jackets in striking distance, 8-6. But again, the Student Princes put together another rally that pushed the lead to 16-8. The Purple and Gold remained relentless as Windau stole the momentum back for DC connecting for back-to-back kills that cut the deficit to 17-13. The Yellow Jackets continued to claw at the Berg advantage as senior Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) connected for a kill late in the set to pull within 23-21. Heidelberg warded the attack once more and was able to secure the set and match victory.

Defiance returns to action on Friday, Sept. 21 as they travel to Chicago ,Ill. For the North Park Invitational.