Turnaround season ends with loss in WHAC Play-In Round

LIVONIA, Mich. - After nearly matching the win total from the previous three seasons, the Defiance Yellow Jackets return to the postseason was limited to one match after a 3-1 loss to the Madonna Crusaders at ACC Union Arena on Monday.

The Yellow Jackets (11-23) shook off a 25-18 loss in the first set in which the team carried a negative hitting percentage due to nine errors by outlasting the Crusaders (14-15) in the second set. Senior Jamia Murray had 10 kills over the first two sets and was a go-to option while playing her final collegiate match in her hometown. Madonna gained the upper hand in the third set with a lengthy run on their way to a 25-15 win. Defiance carried an 8-5 lead early in the set, but the Crusaders finished out the set with a 20-7 advantage that included runs of 6-0 and 5-0. 

Playing in their first postseason action since 2019, the Yellow Jackets needed to pick up the fourth set to keep their season alive.

THE TURNING POINT
The closing moments of the fourth set were critical for the Yellow Jackets trying to extend their season. After falling behind 5-1 to start the fourth, the Jackets responded by winning the race to 20 and held a 20-14 lead. DC kept the pressure on and reached set point at 24-22 following an attack error by the Crusaders. However, Madonna captured one last rally by answering with a kill. After two Defiance attacking errors set the stage for match point for the Crusaders, Paige Cardonna delivered the dagger for Madonna to advance to the next round of the WHAC Tournament.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jamia Murray was the only Yellow Jacket in double figures with 14 kills. She also recorded 14 digs, landed three aces and totaled four blocks.
• Murray finished with the team lead in kills with 290 for the season and 638 for her career. She also finished with 214 digs this year to complete her career with 491.
• Gabby Rodriguez registered seven kills and had 18 digs, her second-highest total of the season. Rodriguez's 282 kills were second-most by a Yellow Jacket this season.
• Kaylee Dickinson logged 18 digs as well and finished with the second-most on the team with 293 during her freshman season.
• Kylie Anderson set up 26 assists as the team's setter for the night to finish the year with 366, the team's second-highest total behind Amina Chamoun. 

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