Yellow Jackets Sports Weekly Recap (Sept. 5- Sept. 11)

By: Brandon Unverferth 

Photography: Hanna Young

Volleyball: Wed. Sept. 7, Fri. Sept. 9, and Sat. Sept. 10

9/7: Heidelberg 3 (4-1), Defiance 0 (1-4)

Sophomore #1 Kaylynn Wellman moments before one of her eight kills vs Heidelberg

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team welcomed the Heidelberg Student Princes to the Karl H. Weaner Center Wednesday night. The crowd was “amped up“ for a midweek showdown and the Yellow Jackets matched the crowd’s energy. While the final results were not what the Yellow Jackets were hoping for, there are some positive aspects to take from this matchup. Junior Madison Schoenauer and Sophomore Kaylynn Wellman each led Defiance with eight kills. Freshman Jaelyn Tomoletz made her presence known, by adding seven kills and one block to the stat sheet.

9/9: Birmingham-Southern 3 (4-1), Defiance 0 (1-5) (Pam Briggs Classic at Capital University)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team faced off against Birmingham-Southern College on Friday afternoon to kick off their first match of the Pam Briggs Classic weekend at Capital University. The Birmingham-Southern Panthers started off “hot” as they took a big eight-point lead at the beginning of set one 13-5. The Yellow Jackets kept the deficit within 7 for most of the first set, but the Panthers ended strong taking the set 25-13. The momentum continued to favor the Panthers throughout the second set, as they went on an incredible 14-point run, to end the set 25-6. Even with the 14-0 scoring run for the Panthers to end the second set, the Yellow Jackets continued to fight. The third set was a thriller as both teams went back and forth swapping the lead numerous times, but in the end, the Panthers captured the third set 25-19 to capture the victory. Sophomore Jamia Murray led the Yellow Jackets with five kills.

9/9: Capital 3 (3-4), Defiance 1 (1-6) (Pam Briggs Classic at Capital University)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team wrapped up Friday’s action at the Pam Briggs Classic at Capital University with a matchup against Capital. The Yellow Jackets used what they learned in the later stages of their matchup against Birmingham-Southern College, to capture the first set over Capital 25-22. Capital came storming back with a sense of vengeance, however, as they took the second set 25-19, third set 27-25, and fourth set 25-19. Capital boasted 48 kills in the contest compared to Defiance’s 35. Junior Madison Schoenauer led the Yellow Jackets with nine kills, while sophomore Kaylynn Wellman and freshman Abi Teders each contributed seven.

9/10: Thiel 3 (3-4), Defiance 2 (1-7) (Pam Briggs Classic at Capital University)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team kicked off their final day of action at the Pam Briggs Classic at Capital University with a matchup against the Thiel College Tomcats. The Yellow Jackets started off strong as they captured the first five points of the opening set. The Tomcats then had their own mini-scoring run, as they shortened the deficit to 5-4. The Yellow Jackets went back and forth with the Tomcats for the remainder of the set before Defiance captured the set victory 25-21. In the second and third sets, Thiel showed a sense of urgency as they secured set two 25-18 and set three 25-13, to take a 2-1 match lead. The Yellow Jackets had a quick conversation following set three and it paid off, as they went on to force the match to a fifth set by winning set four 25-22. With everything on the line, the Yellow Jackets and the Tomcats would swap the lead numerous times, but in the end, Thiel created just enough separation to take the victory by winning the fifth set 15-12. Sophomore Kaylynn Wellman led the Yellow Jackets with 15 kills, while freshman Abi Teders contributed 12 kills and freshman Jaelyn Tomoletz scored 10.

9/10: Otterbein 3 (8-0), Defiance 0 (1-8) (Pam Briggs Classic at Capital University)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team wrapped up their Pam Briggs Classic weekend at Capital University with a showdown against the Otterbein University Cardinals. Defiance started off the match showing consistency, as they would keep the score within reach before the Cardinals ended on a 5-2 scoring run to take the opening set 25-18. The Yellow Jackets tried to follow suit with a scoring run leading to victory in the middle of the second set, as they went on a 7-1 scoring run. Immediately following the Defiance scoring run, Otterbein kicked it up a notch and squeaked by for the second-set victory 25-23. The Yellow Jackets led the third set at one point 13-11 before Otterbein once again pushed forth a scoring run that led to a set victory, as they went on a 6-1 scoring run, leading to a 25-20 third set score in favor of the Cardinals.

Men’s Soccer: Wed. Sept. 7, Sat. Sept. 10, and Sun. Sept. 11

9/7: (Tie) Defiance 2 (0-0-2), Wilmington 2 (2-1-1)

The Yellow Jackets men’s soccer team traveled to Wilmington College to take on the Quakers. Freshman Jeremy Fuller got the scoring started for the Yellow Jackets, finding the back of the net in the 24th minute to give Defiance an early lead 1-0. Just six minutes later (30-minute mark) sophomore Elorm Dogbey for Wilmington took advantage of a Defiance penalty and tied the game at 1. At the 36-minute mark, senior Kaden Pirrwitz scored for Defiance which gave the Yellow Jackets a 2-1 advantage. With less than 20 minutes left in the 2nd half, Elorm Dogbey once again found the back of the net for Wilmington to tie the game. Both teams would try to regain the lead with several shot attempts, but in the end, the game would end in a draw 2-2.

I believe a tie won’t cut it with the mentality of the squad come Saturday. It is never satisfying to end in a draw, but the men played with a chip on their shoulder tonight.Noah Svanberg Men’s Soccer Student Manager

When Student Manager Noah Svanberg was asked by The Defender about the possible mindset change after starting the season with two straight ties, he expressed, “The boys are already thinking about the fine-tuning that needs to be done for Saturday’s trip to Mount Union.”

9/10: Mount Union 3 (2-1-1), Defiance 2 (0-1-2) (Mount Union Invitational at Mount Union University)

The Defiance College men’s soccer team faced off against the Mount Union University Raiders Saturday afternoon to kick off the Mount Union Invitational at Mount Union University. Through nearly 37 minutes of play, both teams remained scoreless, until Mount Union senior Omar Najjar capitalized on a penalty kick opportunity to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. Yellow Jackets senior Chase Stiner knocked in a goal to open the second half (52nd minute) to tie the match at 1. The Yellow Jackets were able to keep the Raiders scoreless in the second half up until the midpoint of the 75th minute when graduate student Rylan Wikle scored to give Mount Union a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later (78-minute mark) senior Chase Stiner punched in his second goal of the contest to tie things up at 2. With four and a half minutes left in regulation, the Yellow Jackets suffered heartbreak as Mount Union junior Jamon McCort netted the game-winner from 15 yards out to give the Raiders the 3-2 match victory.

9/11: (Tie) Defiance 1 (0-1-3), Waynesburg 1 (2-2-1) (Mount Union Invitational at Mount Union University)

The Defiance College Yellow Jackets men’s soccer team wrapped up the Mount Union Invitational at Mount Union University with a matchup against the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets. Waynesburg started off with a quick strike at the 8-minute mark, to take the 1-0 lead. The Defiance College Yellow Jackets exchanged shots with Waynesburg for the remainder of the first half, but nobody was able to put one in the net. This changed in the early stages of the second half, as Defiance sophomore Will Gelhausen tied the game at 1, with a goal at the 50-minute mark. Both teams exchanged shots thereafter, but in the end, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. This was the third draw of the season for the Defiance College Yellow Jackets and the first for Waynesburg.

Women’s Soccer: Wed. Sept. 7 and Sun. Sept. 11

9/7: Heidelberg 9 (1-1-1), Defiance 0 (1-2)

The Yellow Jackets women’s soccer team traveled east to Tiffin, Ohio, to take on the Heidelberg University Student Princes at Hoernemann Stadium. Following a six-goal first half for the Student Princes and a scoreless half for the Yellow Jackets, the deficit seemed only to continue to grow in the second half. The Yellow Jackets struggled to put up shots, which in the end, provided Heidelberg with a greater opportunity to extend their lead. Sophomore Lexi Coward recorded the only shot attempt for Defiance in the contest. 

9/11: Bethany 7 (4-0-1), Defiance 1 (1-3)

The Defiance College women’s soccer team traveled to Bethany, West Virginia, to take on the Bethany College Bisons on Sunday afternoon. The Bisons struck early scoring twenty-nine seconds into the match off the foot of freshman Jada Benjamin. Bethany’s offensive continued to stay hot as they scored an additional trio of goals to make it 4-0 Bisons, before the 9-minute mark of the first half. The Yellow Jackets were able to find the back of the net shortly before the first half expired, as junior Sierra Worrell scored shortly after the 40-minute mark. Freshman Morgan Keelan for the Bisons earned her first hat trick of the season scoring three of Bethany’s seven goals in the contest. 


“Being able to recognize the continued efforts and motivation in the eyes of lower classmen is definitely something that I am excited to see as we edge closer to beginning conference play.”

– Senior Brianna Snider, Women’s Soccer

When senior Brianna Snider was asked by The Defender about the team’s mindset following a 7-1 defeat, she expressed, “I thought we played with a lot of aggressiveness and composure throughout the 90 minute contest today, despite the score. We never gave up and really played hard the whole match.”

Men’s Golf: Thurs. Sept. 8 at Lourdes University (Lourdes Invitational)

The Defiance College men’s golf team traveled to Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, on Thursday morning for the Lourdes Invitational. The Yellow Jackets sent a quartet of golfers to participate. Sophomore Damien Martinez led the way for the Yellow Jackets with an 80th place finish (110). while sophomore Zach Canterbury finished 81st (111). sophomore Payton Switzer finished 82nd (120), and junior Will Garlock finished 83rd (165). The Yellow Jackets finished 12th out of 12 teams, with the Madonna University Crusaders taking the victory.

HOME

Wednesday, Sept. 14

Men’s Soccer (0-1-3) vs Adrian College (1-4)

Location: Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field

(4:00 pm)

Volleyball (1-8) vs Olivet College (2-4)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(6:30 pm)

Saturday, Sept. 17

Football (0-1) vs Kalamazoo College (2-0)

Location: Justin F. Coressel Stadium

(1:30 pm)

Women’s Soccer (1-3) vs Thiel College (1-0)

Location: Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field

(3:00 pm)

Away

Monday, Sept. 12

Men’s Golf at Concordia University

(9:00 am)

Women’s Soccer (1-3) at Penn State- Beaver University (0-1)

(3:00 pm)

Tuesday, Sept. 13

Men’s Golf at Concordia University

(9:00 am)

Volleyball (1-8) at Trine University (3-4)

(6:30 pm)

Thursday, Sept. 15

Men’s Soccer (0-1-3) at Baldwin Wallace University (3-0-1)

(6:15 pm)

Friday, Sept. 16

Women’s Cross Country at Michigan State University

(11:00 am)

Men’s Cross Country at Michigan State University

(11:40 am)

Saturday, Sept. 17

Women’s Golf at Manchester University (Spartan Invitational)

(10:00 am)

Men’s Soccer (0-1-3) at Wooster College (0-3-2)

(3:00 pm)

Sunday, Sept. 18

Women’s Golf at Manchester University (Spartan Invitational)

(9:00 am)

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