Volleyball drops conference opener to Hanover

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College volleyball team lost to Hanover in straight sets (13-25, 15-25, 22-25) in what was the conference opener for both teams. The Yellow Jackets fall to 2-12 overall and 0-1 in the HCAC while Hanover improves to 12-4 and 1-0 in conference.

The Yellow Jackets held a slim 5-4 lead in set one after two attack errors and a ball handling error from the Panthers. Back-to-back kills from Kaylynn Wellman had the Yellow Jackets only trailing by three, 13-10. With the two teams trading the next two points, the Panthers extended their lead to 19-11 after an attack error from Jaelyn Tomoletz. Hanover would win the final six points to take the set and in total won 11 of the final 13 points in the set. 

Just like set one, set two saw the Yellow Jackets hold an early one-point lead as Shelby Clements and Wellman recorded early kills. Two attack errors from Hanover and a kill from Ellie Belvo cut the deficit to one and that would be as close as the Yellow Jackets would get in the set. Leading 10-9, Hanover won the next five points to extend the lead to six and used the momentum to close out the set.

The Yellow Jackets jumped on the Panthers early on set three. Two kills from Kaylynn Wellman and an attack error from Molly Schwarzkopf saw Defiance take a 3-0 lead to begin the set. Defiance continued to lead and held a 12-5 advantage after a kill from Shelby Clements and three attack errors from Hanover. The Panthers slowly chipped away at the lead but the Yellow Jackets still led 17-13 after another kill from Wellman. Kills from Jaelyn Tomoletz and Shelby Clements gave Defiance a 21-17 lead. This is where the tables turned as Hanover rattled off seven consecutive points to set up match point. A Tomoletz kill saved one match point but Maddie Robinson closed it out for the Panthers with a kill on the next point. 

Hanover finished the match with 38 kills, 35 assists, and 45 digs. The Yellow Jackets ended with 28 kills, 26 assists, and 40 digs. 

Kaylynn Wellman led the way with 11 kills and Kayla Boettger finished with 16 digs. Shelby Clements added 10 digs and was second behind Wellman in kills with seven. 

The Yellow Jackets are back in action again at home Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against Kenyon.