Yellow Jackets win sixth straight by taking down #RV Indiana Tech

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets won their sixth straight match with a 3-1 victory (25-22, 25-14, 13-25, 25-16) at Indiana Tech on Wednesday, moving the program to 2-0 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

The Yellow Jackets (9-5, 2-0) jumped out to a 2-0 lead and bounced back from a third-set setback to take down the Warriors, who received votes in the last NAIA Top 25 and were voted to finish second in the WHAC's preseason coaches poll.

DC took the upper hand after a competitive first set, which saw the Jackets lead by as many as seven points before holding off a feverish comeback by the Warriors. Indiana Tech climbed within two points at 23-21 before closing out the opening-set win. The Purple and Gold rode that momentum with a dominating 25-14 win in the second set, in which Defiance had five aces, two blocks and converted 13 of 30 attacks. 

Indiana Tech found its rhythm in the third set and landed 15 kills to force a fourth set. However, the Yellow Jackets responded with 18 kills in the fourth set for a wire-to-wire win to clinch the match. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The win increased Defiance's winning streak to six straight matches, which is the longest for the program since winning eight in a row in 2014.
• Defiance is now 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2017. The Yellow Jackets are currently tied with Lawrence Tech and Rochester Christian atop the WHAC standings.
• Shelby Clements led the attack with 13 kills, followed by 11 from Chaney Brodbeck. Gabby Rodriguez was right in tow with nine more. 
• Clements also led the team with 19 digs, followed by Brodbeck's 14, also in double figures.
• Taylor Craft and Jaelyn Tomoletz each had a team-best three blocks.
• After hitting .252 as a team, Defiance has carried an attack percentage of .240 or better in five straight matches.
• With 65 total digs on Wednesday night, it was the third-most successful digs in a match this season, trailing only a five-set match and another four-setter.

UP NEXT
Defiance travels the other direction up US-24 to Lourdes University on Friday for the team's only match of the weekend. First serve against the Gray Wolves is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ebeid Recreation Center.

-JACKETS-