Jackets Blast by Anderson for Third-Straight Win

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance continued its push towards the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a brisk 25-18, 27-25, 25-20 win over Anderson on Wednesday night. The Jackets dominated play at the net and hit .250 as a team to go with eight total blocks in the victory. 

DC wasted no time setting the tone in the key conference showdown and took control behind the hot hand of Danyel Lipps. The senior outside hitter torched the Ravens for six kills in 13 tries without an error to help DC lead throughout the opening match. DC's middle blocking also had its way, as Marlea Rolander, Michelle Sikora and Jessica Tietje accounted for four of the squad's five opening-set blocks. 

The second set saw the two sides battle to a 15-15 tie, before the Jackets built a 21-17 advantage on kills from Ashlyn Howell and Rolander. Anderson battled back to knot the tally at 23-23 and traded points with DC to force ties at 24-24 and 25-25. A kill from Tietje forced match point for the Jackets and an Anderson hitting error sealed the 27-25 Defiance win. 

Lipps, Rolander and Sara Porter then slammed the door on the sweep by netting a collective 15 kills and just one error in 32 chances for a blistering .438 clip. The hard-hitting attack was too much for the Ravens and DC finished the sweep with a 25-20 win. 

Lipps had the touch all match long and ended with 19 kills and one error for a .429 hitting percentage. The senior is now averaging 3.84 kills per set over DC's last five and has posted a .262 hitting percentage during that span. 

Rolander ended with 11 kills and one error in 23 swings for a .435 clip to go with five blocks, while Porter chipped in with nine kills and Tietje logged a trio of service aces to go with three block assists. 

The Jackets (16-9, 2-3 HCAC) will take a break from league play on Saturday when they host Marygrove at 12:00 pm. DC will be accepting donations for breast cancer research throughout the match and fans are asked to wear pink to show their support in the fight against breast cancer.