Kalik’s Monster Match Improves Jackets Record to 3-1

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Yellow Jacket volleyball team had a thrilling final day of action in the Green Hornet Invitational, as the team split a pair of five-set matches against Kalamazoo and Olivet on Saturday.

The Purple and Gold played the hosts, Kalamazoo, in the morning match at 11 a.m. It took the Jackets a while to wake up, as the team dropped the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-19.

The Jackets refused to give up and managed to level the match score at two sets apiece by claiming the third and fourth sets by scores of 25-12 and 25-19.

It appeared DC had gained control of the match, but the Hornets narrowly escaped the contest with a 16-14 win in the final frame. The loss was the first of the young season for the Jackets and dropped their record to 2-1.

Stats are currently unavailable from the Kalamazoo match.

The final match of the day and tournament was against Olivet. Unlike the first match of the day, the Jackets seized control early by winning the opening stanza 25-20. However, DC had a second-set letdown and allowed Olivet to even the match at 1-1 with a 26-24 second-set win. The two squads traded blows in the third and fourth sets with Defiance winning the third 25-22 and the Comets responding by taking the fourth with a score of 25-23.

The Purple and Gold refused to have a repeat of the Kalamazoo match, and the Jackets dug in and dominated the fifth and final set by a score of 15-4. DC improves its record to 3-1 on the year with the victory.

Sophomore setter Alicia Kalik posted monster numbers against Olivet and earned a spot on the Green Hornet Invitational All-Tournament Team. Kalik recorded a huge triple-double while narrowly missing a quadruple-double. The sophomore's final stat line against Olivet was 34 assists, 11 kills, 11 digs and nine blocks.

DC received noteworthy performances from a number of other Jackets. Juniors Chelsea Ludeman and Alexis Pierce had another solid performance. Pierce recorded her second double-double of the season with 18 kills and 12 blocks, while Ludeman led the team with 19 kills and added 8 blocks. Freshman Rebecca Kain led the Jackets in digs with 21.

The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday, September 8 for the first day of the Rose-Hulman Invite. Defiance is slated to play Webster at 1 p.m. and McDaniel at 3 p.m.