Jackets Get Past Rose-Hulman, Advance to HCAC Semifinals

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Defiance College held off the fifth-seeded Rose-Hulman Engineers in the opening round of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon by a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 22-25, 15-11 score. The Jackets will now face top-seeded Bluffton at 7:00 pm with a trip to Sunday's championship match on the line.

Danyel Lipps paced the Purple and Gold with 16 kills, 23 digs and five assists, while Sara Porter also logged a double-double with 15 kills, 12 digs and three block assists. Ashlyn Howell and Marlea Rolander each ripped 10 kills and Rolander added four solo blocks and nine block assists in a dominating performance at the net.

Julie Brunsman and Kelsey Ferguson combined for 47 assists and 16 digs, while Heather Bradshaw chipped in 16 digs to bolster the DC defensive performance.

Defiance improved to 22-11 overall with the win and have now gone 5-2 in its opening match of the HCAC Tournament during head coach David Kwan's seven years with the program.