Jackets Drop Four-Set Match to No. 29 Heidelberg

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College saw its four-match win streak snapped on Tuesday night, via a four-set loss to No. 29 Heidelberg. The Yellow Jackets started slow, before rallying to win the third set to extend the match.

Heidelberg started fast and notched a 25-14 victory in the opening set behind a .385 hitting percentage which saw the Princes slam 17 kills in 39 swings. The Jackets fell behind by a 5-0 score and never got closer than three points the rest of the game.

HU put down 15 more kills in the second set and picked up four service aces to hold off the Purple and Gold, 25-18, for the 2-0 advantage. Danyel Lipps and Michelle Sikora kept Defiance close with a combined six kills in 16 tries.

The Jackets rallied in the third set behind the strong net play of Marlea Rolander. The sophomore middle blocker chipped in three kills in four swings and added four block assists to fuel DC's six block attack in the set.

Defiance led throughout the third set and opened up a 22-17 advantage on an ace from Kelsey Ferguson. The Berg fought back with three-straight points but Ashlyn Howell slammed the door on the rally with a kill and a Julie Brunsman kill pushed the Jackets to the 24-20 lead. Lipps then finished it with a kill to secure the 25-21 victory.

The Jackets carried that strong play into the fourth set and used a 10-4 spurt to grab a 14-13 edge midway through the set. The determined HU squad clawed back behind four-straight points however, and never relinquished the lead en route to finishing the match with a 25-19 win.

Defiance played well after a sluggish opening set and limited the fast hitting Heidelberg attack to a .163 percentage in the final three sets. The Jackets racked up 10 team blocks and 78 digs in the losing effort.

Lipps led the way with 11 kills, 19 digs and five block assists, while Sikora ended with eight kills and two blocks. Ashton Judis scooped up 15 digs and Rolander ended with six blocks and six digs.

Defiance (6-4) will be right back in action when it travels to Earlham on Wednesday. DC will take on the Quakers in a 7:00 pm contest.