Volleyball Drops Season Opener to Carnegie Mellon at ONU Invitational

ADA, OHIO – The Defiance College volleyball team fell in straight sets to Carnegie Mellon in its season opener Friday afternoon at the ONU Invitational in Ada, Ohio.

In set one, Defiance (0-1) found themselves trailing early as Carnegie Mellon used a 5-0 rally to capture the quick advantage. The Yellow Jackets responded late in the set as a kill by Jaidyn Patridge (Toledo/Springfield) pulled Defiance within 23-12. CMU went on to claim the set 25-13.  

The Yellow Jacket attack came alive in set two as Brooke Plummer (Plain City/Jonathan Alder), Marissa Windau (Castalia/Margaretta), and Jessi Davis (Delta) recorded kills giving Defiance the 4-2 lead. The two teams would exchange points for much of the set before a DC miscue gave Carnegie Mellon the lead for good. CMU rattled off the final three points of the set to win 25-13.

In set three, the Yellow Jackets stung early jumping to a 4-0 lead led by Madison Hollis (Burlington, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) and Plummer. CMU rallied tying the contest at 9-9 following a service ace by Hannah Wooten and a kill by Lauren Mueller. Defiance continued to battle as a Carnegie Mellon miscue and a kill by Davis tied the contest, 18-18. CMU went on to claim the final two points of the set to win, 25-21.

Defiance was led in the contest by Windau with a team-high seven kills, Hollis recorded a team best 17 assists.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Saturday (Sept. 2) with a pair of matches beginning with Case Western Reserve at 12:30 p.m. Defiance will then take on Thomas More (Ky.) in its final match at 2:30 p.m.