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Defiance vs Franklin Box
DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College started the night as one of three remaining unbeaten teams in HCAC action and kept its perch atop the league standings with a 30-21, 32-34, 30-24, 30-27 victory over the visiting Franklin College Grizzlies.
The Jackets saw three players record 15-or-more kills to spark the offense, and Kelsey Ferguson kept the DC hitters clicking all night, setting a new career high with 52 assists. Danyel Lipps led the charge, overcoming a quiet start by pounding 17-of-her-19 kills in the final three games, while adding 18 digs. Lauren Aldridge racked up 16 kills and four blocks, and Sara Porter turned in her fifth-straight double-double with 15 kills, 18 digs, four blocks and three service aces.
Several other Yellow Jackets had impressive performances as well, as Heather Bradshaw scooped up 27 digs to lead all players, Julie Brunsman filled the stat sheet with seven digs, five blocks, four kills and a pair of aces and Ashton Judis played well on defense, gathering seven digs.
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| Porter paced Defiance to the opening-set win with five kills in 13 swings. The Jackets rode the hot hand to a 19-10 lead and eventually scored the 30-21 victory, as a kill from Porter provided the final tally.
The second game proved to be the best of the match, as the two sides battled to 17 ties and a 34-32 final. Despite the see-saw action, Defiance grabbed the advantage at 11-10 and maintained at least a share of the lead until a hitting error put Franklin in front at 32-31. DC drew even once again on a kill from Lipps, but consecutive FC kills from Katherine Rogers and Marcy Robbins claimed the 34-32 win for Franklin.
The third set saw Franklin build a 6-1 lead out of the gates, as the Grizzlies appeared to have taken control of the match. Defiance responded in a hurry, flipping the 6-1 deficit into a 22-11 lead on the back of a 21-5 flurry. DC cruised from there to take the 30-24 victory and the 2-1 lead in the match.
Franklin never fully recovered from DC’s extended rally in the third game and the Jackets capitalized by jumping out to an 11-4 lead in the fourth. The match was never in question from that point on until FC drew within two points at 28-26. Ferguson and Porter then got DC over the hump, connecting for back-to-back kills to end the match at 30-27.
The win moves Defiance to 3-0 in HCAC play and 5-11 overall. The Jackets will have the weekend off before hosting Anderson and Hanover next week in their final two home conference matches of the year. DC will start the week by hosting Anderson on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.
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