Yellow Jackets sweep Racers to start conference play

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets scored a straight-set victory over the UNOH Racers at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday night, capturing a win in DC's home and conference opener.

The Purple and Gold came out with energy and rolled to a 10-1 start in the first set, led by the first three of 15 kills by Chaney Brodbeck. The Racers struck back to within three points before the Jackets captured 8 of the last 10 rallies for the win.

The second set proved to be the most competitive set that saw Defiance outlast UNOH, 28-26. The Racers led 22-19 looking to even the sets but Defiance rallied for three straight points, started by a kill then an ace by Shelby Clements. The two squads traded points to 26-26 until Gabby Rodriguez slammed a kill for the lead and Brodbeck landed an ace to put DC ahead two sets to none.

The Jackets put the match away with a 25-17 win in the third set. After a 6-6 tie, Defiance went on a 12-4 run and also won five straight points later on to set up match point, which was struck by Clements on a feed from Haley Hammer.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Yellow Jackets are 1-0 in conference play for the first time since 2017 and also earned the win in the home opener for the first time since 2020-21.
  The win over UNOH is the first in program history in the fourth meeting between the schools.
• Defiance earned their fourth straight set win of the season, which also snapped a short three-game losing streak.
  DC hit .219 on the night, marking their first match over .200 since their opening weekend invitational.
• Chaney Brodbeck (16), Gabby Rodriguez (10) and Shelby Clements (10) all clear double-digit kills and accounted for 35 of the team's 38 kills.
  Kylie Yoder was the defensive dynamo for the evening with a team-best 12 digs, followed closely by Haley Hammer with 10.
• Hammer served up 33 assists on the night in her first match at the Weaner Center.

UP NEXT
Defiance travels to Fort Wayne over the weekend to play four matches at the Liz Lykowski Tournament, which will be hosted by Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne. The Jackets will tangle with Indiana Northwest and St. Ambrose on Friday afternoon at 2 and 6 p.m.

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