Error-free second set fuels Defiance to four-set win over Lourdes

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Despite a shaky first set, the Defiance Yellow Jackets rebounded with three strong sets and claimed a 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19) over the Lourdes Gray Wolves at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday night.

The Yellow Jackets (14-11, 7-6 WHAC) first set featured 15 errors in the attack and serve game as the Gray Wolves (6-13, 2-11 WHAC) claimed the first set. Defiance started a run near the end of the first set but it fell short.

Defiance played a brilliant second set and looked to find their early-season form to turn the match around. Taylor Craft and Chaney Brodbeck had go-ahead kills early in the set for Defiance that started to tip the momentum towards the home side. Jaelyn Tomoletz got in on the action with a big block at the 15-9 mark while DC started to run away and eventually increased the lead to 10. In the second set, Defiance did not commit any attack errors and collected five aces in the service game.

The third and fourth sets had similar outcomes that saw Lourdes take an early lead before the Yellow Jackets stormed ahead. Set 3 was tied as late as 16-16 before DC scored 9 of 12 to take the 2-1 lead. Tomoletz had a clutch kill from her middle position to give DC a two-point cushion at 18-16 that fanned the DC run into flame. In the fourth, Defiance got on an eight-point run to take command at 18-10 that featured three kills by freshman Sarah Hirschy. 

Defiance has now won 2 out of 3 ahead of playing the top four teams in the WHAC over the next two weekends.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• After 10 attack errors in the first set, Defiance had just six errors on the attack the remainder of the match.
• During the first set, senior Jaelyn Tomoletz collected her 300th career block and went on to be a key part of the win. She converted five kills without committing an attack error and assisted on four blocks.
• Taylor Craft set a new season-high with 12 kills, passing her previous high by the third set. Craft also had four block assists in the win.
• Haley Hammer played the setter position all night and collected a season-high 41 assists. She is the first player with 40 or more assists in a game since Brianna Wheeler did so three times during the 2020-21 season.
• Sarah Hirschy's 11 kills were a new career-best for the freshman and had four kills in the match-clinching fourth set.
• Chaney Brodbeck tied her season-high with 17 kills for the match, leading all players in the contest. She also landed five aces and had 18 digs to also lead the Jackets in those categories.
• Gabby Rodriguez was limited two kills but was a defensive dynamo for DC. Her 18 kills were a season-best and tied for the team lead.
• Samantha Roffi saw action as a service specialist and picked up an ace, an assist and three digs.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets return to action on Friday night with a home match against Rochester Christian. First serve against the Warriors is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

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