Rally Falls Short as Quakers Defeat Yellow Jackets

DEFIANCE, Ohio - With their backs against the wall, trailing Earlham 2-0, Defiance College volleyball set out to rally behind the support of the Yellow Jacket faithful on Wednesday evening. Ultimately, Defiance was defeated in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup, 3-1 (25-21, 28-26, 21-25, 26-24). 

The Quakers quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the Karl H. Weaner Center before DC mounted their rally. Trailing 19-16, a swing of five straight Yellow Jacket points, including kills from Delaney Monnin (Defiance / Tinora), Mackenzie Umbaugh (Plymouth, Ind. / Plymouth), and Jessi Davis (Delta / Delta), saw DC take the final lead of the set. Monnin continued her impressive day on the attack and she emphatically ended the set at 25-21. 

A tight fourth set saw Defiance push ahead to a 24-21 lead before the visiting Quakers retaliated to solidify the victory, 26-24. 

A career-high performance from Monnin saw her finish the evening with 26 kills. The sophomore also contributed two blocks, three digs, and one assist to the effort. 

Defensively, five Yellow Jackets recorded double-digit digs with Morgan Porter (Defiance / Defiance) leading the way with 28. Mackenzie Benham (Marshall, Mich. / Marshall) added in 21 digs, while Abigail Cronnin (Lambertville, Mich. / Cardinal Stritch Catholic) and Brianna Wheeler (Sturgis, Mich. / Sturgis) followed with 15 digs each. Davis was the last to join the group with a 10-dig performance. 

With the defeat, Defiance falls to 13-9 on the season and a 1-3 mark in HCAC play. The Yellow Jackets will take to the road for HCAC action on Friday, October 18, as they visit Franklin College. Action with the Grizzlies is slated to begin at 6:30 pm.