Volleyball snaps losing skid with victory over Susquehanna at Midwest Invitational

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Defiance College volleyball team split on day two of the Midwest Invitational Saturday afternoon at Calvin University. The Yellow Jackets were swept by Millikin (11-25, 24-26, 7-25) and defeated Susquehanna in four sets (20-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-21). 

With the win, the Yellow Jackets snapped a six-game losing streak to improve to 4-18 overall. 

Match one vs. Millikin (L, 3-0)

Millikin struck first and would lead the entire way in set one. The first point for the Yellow Jackets was a kill by Kaylynn Wellman. Kills by Jamia Murray and Shelby Clements along with a service ace from Clements brought the Yellow Jackets to within one point, 7-6. Millikin would win 12 of the next 15 points to really take control of the set and ended the set by winning six of the final seven points to win the set.

Defiance started the second set with a service ace from Courtney Maxwell and a kill by Madison Schoenauer. Millikin took their first lead of the set at 10-9 following an attack error from Jamia Murray and the Big Blue would hold leads of 15-11 and 20-16. Another attack error from Murray saw the Yellow Jackets facing set point and trailing 24-20. The Yellow Jackets responded to tie it at 24. Defiance would get kills from Madison Schoenauer and a service ace by Courtney Maxwell to get right back in it. However, the Big Blue won the next two points to claim set two and clinched with a kill and an attack error from Murray.

The Big Blue cruised jumped out to a quick lead and led wire-to-wire in set three. Millikin would win the first four points that blossomed into taking 13 of the first 15 points to take a 13-2 lead. The Yellow Jackets got offensive points via kills from Jaelyn Tomoletz, Kaylynn Wellman, Jamia Murray, and Madison Schoenauer during the set. 

Kaylynn Wellman led the team in kills with five, Courtney Maxwell led the way in assists and Emma Chafins led the team in digs with 15. 

Match two vs. Susquehanna (W, 3-1)

The River Hawks jumped out early in set one and led the entire way. The Yellow Jackets kept it close and the set featured the two teams being tied at 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14. A kill by Madison Schoenauer put Defiance up 14-13 but Susquehanna answered by winning the next eight straight points to lead 21-14. A Jaelyn Tomoletz kill saved one set point but the River Hawks ended it with a kill on the next possession to win set one, 25-20. 

Attack errors from the River Hawks along with a Madison Schoenauer kill gave the Yellow Jackets an early 10-4 lead. Susquehanna immediately answered by winning the next five to get back in it, making it 10-9. The River Hawks led 2-1 three points in but the Yellow Jackets led the rest of the way. Leading 20-17, Defiance got kills from Shelby Clements and Schoenauer and closed out the set thanks to two attack errors from the River Hawks. The Yellow Jackets won set two, 25-20.

The River Hawks scored the first point of the third set and after that, the Yellow Jackets rattled off nine straight points. The Yellow Jackets got multiple kills from Jaelyn Tomoletz and Kaylynn Wellman during the stretch along with a service ace from Hope Yost. That run set the tone for the set as the closest the River Hawks would get would be to within five points. Kills by Wellman and Jamia Murray made it 20-11 and Shelby Clements clinched the set with a kill.

Set four was tight early and the River Hawks held a 7-4 advantage. The Yellow Jackets responded with a kill from Madison Schoenauer and a service ace from Shelby Clements as well as attack errors from their opponent to tie it at eight. Leading 18-16, Defiance extended their lead to 22-16 thanks to a kill by Jaelyn Tomoletz and a service ace by Emma Chafins. Susquehanna climbed back and trailed 23-20, but Defiance closed out the set and match with kills by Jamia Murray and Jaelyn Tomoletz. The kill by Tomoletz was the victory clincher.

As a team, the Yellow Jackets recorded a season-high 50 kills in the match. Courtney Maxwell with a team-high 36 assists and Jaelyn Tomoletz and Shelby Clements recorded double-digit kills. 

The Yellow Jackets return to the Karl H. Weaner Center Wednesday, October 25 against Anderson at 7 p.m.