Yellow Jackets score first WHAC victory over Rochester Christian

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets bounced back from a loss on Friday night with a three-set sweep over the Rochester Christian Warriors on Saturday at the Karl H. Weaner Center and earned DC's first WHAC victory in any sport since joining the conference.

The Yellow Jackets (7-7, 1-2 WHAC) took care of business winning straight sets of 25-15, 25-20 and 25-11. Defiance set the tone early and held the upper hand for the majority of the match and had one of the team's best games hitting, finishing with a 45 percent kill percentage and hit .280 as a team. 

THE TURNING POINT 
The two teams traded points to start the match but the Jackets were able to pull away in the first set. That early swing was a five-point run boosted by three aces from Chaney Brodbeck to take a convincing lead, 13-7, and forced a timeout by RCU. This spurt propelled Defiance to a convincing first set win and improved their first-set record to 10-4. 

The Jackets did not relent as the Warriors only led for just two points during the match, which came by winning the first point of the second and third sets before responses by Defiance. The Jackets went on long runs in all three sets to pull away, including an eight-point run in the third that capped off the match. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Jamia Murray once again led the way in kills with 16 of Defiance's 37. She also hit .294 and compiled 31 kills for the weekend.
• Jaelyn Tomoletz was a force at the net as well, converting 5-of-7 attacks in points and picked up a block.
• Ja'Miah Thomas added four kills for Defiance, one shy of her season-best of five from Friday night.
• Amina Chamoun and Kylie Anderson once again split setting duties and dished out 31 assists combined, led by Anderson's 16.
• Shelby Clements and Chaney Brodbeck led the way in aces with three a piece. The Yellow Jackets had 12 total aces on the day, their most of the season.
• Defensively, Brodbeck and Murray were the only two Yellow Jackets in double figures in digs. Brodbeck led the team with 13.
• Defiance amended their second set struggles with Saturday's second set win and now stand at 6-8 in set two.
• Kirsten Vanisacker gave Defiance a nice boost at the end of the match closing the match, picking up an ace off the bench and serving during DC's final four points.

UP NEXT 
The Yellow Jackets travel to Cornerstone University next Friday for a conference game at Mol Arena. Match starts at 7:00 p.m. The team will remain in Grand Rapids on Saturday to play Aquinas as well.

Written by Logan Kunkel

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