Volleyball Splits Tri-Match with Thrilling Five Set Victory

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Defiance College volleyball headed to Kalamazoo for a tri-match with the Hornets and the Alma Scots on Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets fell to Alma 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19) before rallying to defeat the hosts 3-2 (24-26, 25-19, 24-26, 25-23, 15-8). 

The first match of the day saw DC pull the first set from Alma with a 25-23 scoreline before dropping three tight sets to start the day. 

Coach Brie Brenner's side came out looking for a victory in the second match of the day. The hosting Hornets took a close first set by just two points before DC rallied to grab the second. Backs against the wall, Defiance pulled out the fourth set win just 25-23. 

In the decisive fifth set, Defiance quickly took their momentum and pushed to a 7-2 lead. A Jessi Davis (Delta / Delta) kill set up DC for the victory before Delaney Monnin (Defiance / Tinora) nailed the match winner off an assist from Brianna Wheeler (Sturgis, Mich. / Sturgis). 

Four Yellow Jackets reached double-digit kills on the day. Emma Seitz (Toledo / Central Catholic) led the way with 33, including a season-high 16 in the day's finale. Monnin, Mackenzie Benham (Marshall, Mich. / Marshall) and Davis each broke the barrier with 30, 28 and 20 respectively. 

On the offensive side of the court, Wheeler dished out a staggering 102 assists on the day. The sophomore and Abigail Cronin each recorded a team-high six service aces to help the Purple and Gold to the split. 

Defensively, Morgan Porter (Defiance / Defiance) tallied a team-best 39 digs on the day for a 4.33 digs/set rate. Fellow Defiance native Alexis Kiessling (Defiance / Defiance) recorded 26 digs of her own including a season-high 17 in the match with the Hornets. At the net, Mackenzie Umbaugh (Plymouth, Ind. / Plymouth High School) led the way with five total blocks over the two matches. 

With the split, Defiance moves to 12-6 on the season. DC will begin the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference season on Saturday, October 5, as they host Hanover Colllege at 12:00 pm.