Volleyball defeated in four sets at Heidelberg

Photo credits to Amy Hafer. 

TIFFIN, Ohio - The Defiance College volleyball team was defeated at Heidelberg Wednesday night by a score of 3-1 with set scores of 25-17, 25-19, 23-25, and 25-20. . Heidelberg improves to 6-1 and Defiance falls to 0-4. 

A block by Jamia Murray and Jaelyn Tomoletz gave the Yellow Jackets the first point of the night. The Student Princes would answer with three straight points and that would be followed with five straight points from the Yellow Jackets. A kill by Kaylynn Wellman capped off the point streak. After being tied at nine points apiece in set one, Heidelberg would double up the Yellow Jackets in points to take set number one that was capped by a kill from Grace Porter. 

With Heidelberg holding a slim 9-8 advantage early in the second set, the Student Princes rattled off six straight points to extend their lead to 15-8. The Yellow Jackets would take advantage of a few errors from their opponent to get back within three points. Later in the set, a kill by Ellie Belvo would make it 23-19 Heidelberg, but the Student Princes would take set two topped with an ace by Reagan Ritzhaupt.

The Yellow Jackets would rally to win set three. Wellman and Tomoletz recorded back-to-back kills which gave Defiance an 8-4 advantage. Heidelberg, however, answered and retook the lead by winning eight of the next nine points. With the score tied at 20, the Yellow Jackets found themselves trailing 22-20 and 23-22. After a service error by Heidelberg tied the set at 23, freshman Ellie Belvo stepped up and served back-to-back aces to claim the set victory. 

Jamia Murray and Abby Altizer recorded early kills to give the Yellow Jackets the advantage early on in the fourth set. With Defiance leading 6-5 after a bad set from Maddie Reed, Heidelberg would win the next six points to take an 11-6 advantage. The Student Princes would never relinquish that lead and went on to win the set and the match. 

Murray led the team in kills with 12 and Kendra Kline had a team-high 26 assists. Hope Yost recorded a team-high 19 digs. 

The Yellow Jackets finished the match with 37 kills, 35 assists, and 71 digs. Heidelberg ended with 47 kills, 44 assists, and 71 digs. 

The Yellow Jackets head to Cleveland this weekend for the Case Western Reserve Quad and will begin the tournament with a match against Allegheny (Pa.) Friday night at 7:30 p.m.