Lipps Sets DC Kills Record as Jackets Split Pair of Matches

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Danyel Lipps recorded five kills in a three-set defeat against Mount St. Joseph to become Defiance's all-time career leader in kills. Lipps and DC would bounce back in their second match of the afternoon to top Kenyon in four sets.

Lipps' efforts were not enough in the opener, as the Yellow Jackets fell to 0-2 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference competition with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 setback against the Lions.

MSJ opened the day with an 8-1 spurt and held off a pair of rallies from Defiance to strike first. The Jackets closed the deficit to three at 12-9 and 17-14 but saw the Mount hit back each time to remain in front en route to gaining the 25-16 victory. It would be more of the same in the final two sets, as MSJ won each by a 25-19 margin.

The Jackets were led by six kills from Ashlyn Howell, as the freshman posted a .417 hitting percentage in 12 swings. Marlea Rolander, Jessica Tietje and Michelle Sikora each chipped in three block assists and Lipps put down five kills to set the record.

DC continued to struggle at the start of the second match, dropping a 25-22 decision in the opening set against Kenyon before finding its rhythm. Defiance rebounded to storm back with decisive wins in each of the final three to take the 3-1 match victory.

The Jackets laced 33 kills in 79 swings for a blistering .354 hitting percentage over the final three sets, while hitting just five errors against the Kenyon defense. Howell led the charge once again with a career-high 12 kills and Rolander posted eight kills in 16 swings and four block assists. Lipps and Tietje each chipped in five kills and Heather Bradshaw sparked the defense with 15 digs.

With the 10 kills on Saturday, Lipps passed Nikki Retcher (2001-2004) as the program's all-time leader in kills with 1,146. Lipps now holds the program's all-time marks in kills and attempts.

Lipps and the Jackets (12-7, 0-2 HCAC) will gun for their first league victory on Sunday, when they host Hanover (6-11, 0-1 HCAC) at 11:00 am. DC will then take on Kalamazoo (7-10) at 3:00 pm.