Volleyball Competes at the North Park Invitational

CHICAGO, ILL. - The Defiance College volleyball team fell on the final day of the North Park Invitational dropping matches to host North Park 3-2 and Benedictine 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at the North Park Gym.

In its opening match with North Park, Defiance (2-11 overall) was led by freshman Delaney Monnin (Defiance/Tinora) with a team-high 14 kills and a .310 hitting percentage.

Despite a few obstacles, the Yellow Jackets came out strong in the opening set as they jumped to the 6-3 advantage following a kill by junior Jessi Davis (Delta). The Purple and Gold continued to pressure the North Park defense as Monnin landed a kill late in the set that extended the DC advantage and sparked an eight point run, 20-11. North Park looked to get something going as they strung together a small run of their own before freshman Cassidy Posey (Paulding) shut it down and sealed the set one victory, 25-17.

North Park responded in set two moving full speed ahead scoring the sets first six points. The team rolled on as they used another rally late in the set to push the lead to 22-8. DC showed some battle as they strung together four straight points led by senior Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) to pull within 22-15 before a DC miscue handed over the set, 25-15.

North Park would go on to claim set three (25-21) before the Purple and Gold responded. Defiance attacked early and often in set four as another kill by Monnin and a North Park error gave DC the 9-6 advantage. The Yellow Jackets continued to dominate the set as they capped off the matches largest rally of ten points to blow the set wide open, 23-13. Davis would get the sets final kill as she sealed the set win, 25-14.

In the final set, North Park took the lead early and never looked back as a pair of DC miscues midway through the set deemed costly for the Purple and Gold. North Park finished the set hitting .389 en route to the set and match victory.

In the night cap, DC found themselves on the wrong end of a five set thriller 20-25, 25-23, 12-25, 25-22, and 11-15.

In the opening set, Benedictine surged ahead early as a DC miscue gave the Ravens the 9-4 advantage. They continued to capitalize as back-to-back kills and another Defiance attacking error sealed the 25-20 set one victory.

The Purple and Gold struggled again in the third set falling behind early before dropping the set 25-11. But again DC shined in set four as they opened the set with four straight points led by senior Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta). They continued to bring the hammer as Monnin and junior Emma Seitz (Toledo/Central Catholic) both connected for kills late in the set that sealed the victory.

Defiance College found themselves on the wrong end of another fifth set as they again fell behind early and were unable to erase the deficit. Benedictine would claim the set 15-11.

However, the Yellow Jackets showed resilience as they battled through much of set two taking the 12-11 advantage following a kill by Davis. With the momentum in hand, DC rattled off four straight points to push the lead to 15-12. Monnin once again led the DC front line as she landed a kill that put Defiance in the driver seat. Benedictine responded tying the contest once more before a Davis kill halted the charging Ravens and secured the 25-23 set victory. 

 Defiance returns to action on Tuesday, September 25 as they open Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Franklin. First serve is set for 7:30 pm.