Yellow Jacket Volleyball gets first win to finish first day of new season

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a split of their first two games as the co-host of the Racer Yellow Jacket Classic, falling to Indiana Northwest in five sets and finishing with a sweep over Brescia.

The victory in the nightcap against Brescia secured the athletic department's first win since becoming an NAIA member and the first win at DC for head coach Jeremy Thornburg.

Game 1 vs. Indiana Northwest, L 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 20-22)
Defiance nearly completed a memorable comeback in the first contest of the day at the Karl H. Weaner Center after falling in a pair of competitive sets. The Jackets captured each of the next two sets, including a commanding 25-16 third set before they forced a decisive fifth. The deciding set went beyond regulation with the Redhawks holding as much as a 13-6 lead before DC ripped off six straight scores to extend the match. The two squads exchanged match points with ties at 14, 15, 18, 19, and 20 before IU Northwest cemented the win with the final two points of the night.

Jaelyn Tomoletz and Shelby Clements led the attack for DC with 15 and 14 kills respectively. Kendra Kline served up 19 assists and Jamia Murray was the top defender in the contest with 17 digs. Tomoletz also was a force up front with a five solo blocks.

Game 2 vs. Brescia, W 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-13)
In Defiance's second match of the day, the Yellow Jackets earned a straight-set victory over the Brescia Bearcats to improve to 1-1 on the season. The first set was competitive with nine ties and neither team created much separation until the Yellow Jackets pulled away to a five-point win. The second set was similar but started heavily in Defiance's favor, leading by as much as 10-4. DC fended off Brescia from pulling within one and stabilized to a 25-22 win in set two with Tomoletz securing the last three scores of the set for DC. The Yellow Jackets move dominant set of the day was the last one with a 25-13 win to complete the sweep.

Defiance's individual numbers were very balanced on the offensive side in the second match with three players leading the way with seven kills: Tomoletz, Clements and Chaney Brodbeck. Murray added six kills with four more from Gabby Rodriguez. Amina Chamoun was the top passer with 13 assists and Brodbeck dug out a team-best 10 attacks on the defensive end.

OTHER GAMES AT DC ON FRIDAY
Indiana Northwest def. Ohio Christian, 3-1
Ohio Christian def. Brescia, 3-0

UP NEXT
Defiance hosts four more games on Saturday beginning with a neutral-site contest between Ohio Christian and Governors State at 10 a.m. The Jackets will play Governors State at 12:30 p.m. followed by OCU and Goshen at 3 p.m., then DC and Goshen at 5:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-