Volleyball Beats Transylvania (Ky.) in HCAC Opener

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  Despite trailing in the first two sets, the Defiance College volleyball team rallied to beat Transylvania (Ky.) University, 3-0, in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener at the Karl H. Weaner Center.  

The Yellow Jackets defeated the Pioneers by the scores of 28-26, 26-24 and 25-15.

Leading the offensive attack was freshman outside hitter Meredith Shank (Maumee/Springfield) with 14 kills.  Senior outside hitter Bree Anderson (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) was second with nine kills and sophomore outside hitter Ari Mahaffey (Porter, Ind./Chesterton) added six kills.  Senior Alicia Kalik (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) set up the offense with 31 assists.  She also had three service aces.  

Defensively, junior Rebecca Kain (Orland, Ind./Prairie Heights) tallied a match-high 21 digs, followed by the duo of Kalik and sophomore Makayla Dennis (Bryan) with eight digs each.  Kalik also had an impressive night at the net with nine total blocks (three solo and six assists).  She was joined by Anderson who finished the night with eight blocks (two solo and six aasists).

Defiance will travel to Alliance for a non-conference tri-match hosted by the University of Mount Union tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 27).  The Jackets will take on Geneva (Pa.) College in their first match of the day at 2 p.m., followed by a matchup against host school Mount Union at 4:30 p.m.