DEFIANCE, Ohio – After ending the regular season with a dominating straight-set victory over Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Bluffton University followed by a thrilling four-set win over Hanover in the HCAC Tournament Quarterfinals, the Yellow Jacket volleyball team is surging into the semifinal round against Mount St. Joseph.

The HCAC Tournament is familiar territory to the Yellow Jacket volleyball program, as the Purple and Gold have qualified for postseason play in 12-of-13 seasons as a member of the Heartland. After Tuesday evening’s win, Defiance moved its all-time HCAC Tourney record to 10-11. The 2012 season marks the eighth time the Jackets have qualified for the semifinals, with Defiance reaching the championship match on three occasions.

Along with the No. 4 Yellow Jackets, the other remaining contenders are No. 1 Mount St. Joseph, No. 2 Transylvania and No. 3 Rose-Hulman. The Purple and Gold have mixed results against the three teams in postseason play. DC has faced MSJ three times prior to this season’s matchup. The Lions have won each meeting, with all three victories coming in the championship match.

Defiance has faced Rose-Hulman and Transylvania only one time each, with the Jackets defeating both the Engineers 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the 2009 tournament and the Pioneers 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2005 season.

DC has not fared as well this season against the three remaining squads, as the Yellow Jackets lost to each team by a set-score of 3-1. MSJ, Rose-Hulman and Transylvania accounted for the Purple and Gold’s only three losses during conference action.

Against the top three seeds, Alexis Pierce has stood out as the Yellow Jacket who has made the biggest impact in the matches. The junior led the team in kills and blocks, combining for 35 kills and nine blocks in the three matches. Lindsay McDaniel led DC in digs with 49, an average of 16.33 per match.

The Yellow Jackets’ match against the Lions will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, with the match being played on the campus of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. The championship match is slated to start on Sunday, November 4 at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and students, with children under 11 receiving free admission. Students, faculty and staff get in free with the presentation of a Defiance ID. Attached is a map of the Mount St. Joseph campus with available parking marked.