No. 16 MVNU hands DC straight-set defeat on Friday

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets battled the No. 16 Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars but fell in straight sets on Friday at the Karl H. Weaner Center. 

Despite losing in straight sets, the Yellow Jackets (7-11, 1-5 WHAC) played MVNU tight in the first set, keeping the Cougars (18-2) within three points for the entire set until the final points of the set. In the second, Defiance held a 9-7 lead before a five-point rally tipped the momentum back to the Cougars, who won the set 25-18. DC's blocking buoyed a .103 hitting average in the first set but their hitting tapered off through the match while the Cougars carried a .172 hitting percentage, which was just their fifth match this year below .200. The loss for Defiance was their second to a top-25 team over their last three matches.

THE TURNING POINT 
The Yellow Jackets kept the first set close, losing a tight set 25-22. The second set started much of the same until later on when the Cougars managed a six-point run followed by a four-point run, giving them a substantial lead and not relenting. The Yellow Jackets tried to battle back in the third but with six and four-point run stretches again the Cougars pulled away to take the match. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Gabby Rodriguez led the way in kills for the Yellow Jackets with seven followed by Jamia Murray with six. 
• Jaelyn Tomoletz managed three solo blocks leading the defensive effort for the Jackets. Murray and Abby Altizer also register solo blocks plus one assisted.
• Defiance racked up eight team blocks, including six solo blocks while five different players made plays at the net. Seven of those blocks were all recorded during the first two sets.
• Jamia Murray had the only two service aces for the Yellow Jackets in the match. 

UP NEXT 
The Yellow Jackets travel to The Garage in Lima, Ohio on Saturday to play a tri-match against WHAC foe UNOH and Cumberlands. The first match begins at noon.

-JACKETS-