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Yellow Jackets outlasted in a pair of five-set matches to finish Onset Invitational
August 24, 2024

Yellow Jackets outlasted in a pair of five-set matches to finish Onset Invitational

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Both matches played by Defiance College volleyball on Saturday went to five sets but the Yellow Jackets suffered losses to Bethel and Saint Francis to conclude the weekend at the Onset Invitational.

The Yellow Jackets (4-3) won the first set of each match played on Saturday but sputtered through the middle games of the day. The losses dropped Defiance to 0-3 in matches that required five sets.

Game 1 vs. Bethel, L 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 12-25, 25-22, 14-16)
After Defiance claimed the first set by holding a wire-to-wire lead, Bethel put Defiance on the brink with lopsided wins in the second and third sets. The momentum swing was characterized by efficient attacking by Bethel, who committed just three hitting errors in the second and third sets while Defiance combined for 14 over the same period. Defiance's 12-point total in set three was their lowest total of the season so far.

The Yellow Jackets responded with a gritty fourth-set win, 25-22, to force a decisive fifth set. Bethel held the upper hand through most of the fourth until DC charged back to tie the score at 17-17. Ties at 21-21 and 22-22 followed before Gabby Rodriguez and Jaelyn Tomoletz hit consecutive kills that led to Rodriguez with an ace to secure the set. 

The fifth set was a heartbreaker for Defiance that had the Jackets sitting at match point, 14-13, before the Pilots rallied for three straight points to claim the match.

Rodriguez led the Jackets with 11 kills followed by Tomoletz and Shelby Clements with 10 apiece. Amina Chamoun had 24 assists and five different Yellow Jackets recorded double figures in digs.

Game 2 vs. Saint Francis, L 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 28-26, 18-25, 9-15)
The two squads alternated wins after DC took the first 25-21, which included an elongated third set that the Jackets endured to pick up a 28-26 win. Defiance held the upper hand in the second as well, leading 15-10 before the Cougars ripped off a rally of five straight points and 11 of 12 to capture the momentum for set two.

The fifth set went back and forth until Defiance claimed a 9-8 lead, in which Saint Francis responded with seven straight scores to clinch the match. 

Following Rodriguez with 14 kills, Abby Altizer recorded a career-best nine kills for Defiance on 15 total attacks. Kylie Anderson also registered a career-best 27 assists in the loss.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets season continues with the team's final invitational of the season at the University of Rio Grande. DC plays two matches on each Friday and Saturday beginning with a noon match Friday against Kentucky Christian.

-JACKETS-

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