Dordt battled back from a set down and an eight-point deficit in set two to earn a four-set victory over Waldorf Saturday night in DeWitt Gymnasium. The Defenders evened the match with a dramatic rally in set two and then controlled play over the final two sets for a 3-1 win (21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-20).

BOX SCORE (PDF)

After dropping the opening set 25-21, Dordt trailed 21-13 in the second before mounting an eight-point comeback. Behind the serving of Carlee Jackson and steady swings from Laney Wolfswinkel and Myra Carlson, the Defenders chipped away with a 7-0 burst to tie it at 24-24. Consecutive kills from Wolfswinkel and Haley Kuperus completed the comeback as Dordt took the set 26-24 to even the match at one apiece.  Kuperus's kill was part of her career high 19-kill night.

That momentum carried into set three, where Dordt opened with a 7-1 run highlighted by kills from Tarren Spartz and Kuperus. The Defenders later scored six straight behind Maddy Jackson's serving to stretch the lead to 18-9 and closed the frame 25-19 on another Spartz kill.

Set four featured nine early ties before Dordt began to separate midway through the frame. A block from Ellie Weg and Myra Carlson ignited a 5-0 surge to give the Defenders a 15-10 cushion. Waldorf closed within three at 21-18, but Dordt answered with kills from Kuperus and Carlson to finish off the match, 25-20.

Throughout the night, Dordt's defense got stronger after the first set, limiting Waldorf to a .141 attack efficiency while posting eight team blocks. Key moments included consecutive service aces from Haley Wielenga in set one and the consistent setting combination of Jackson and Chloe Huisman, who distributed 50 combined assists to fuel Dordt's attack.

THE NUMBERS

• Kills: Dordt 63 | Waldorf 42
• Attack Efficiency: Dordt .245 | Waldorf .141
• Digs: Dordt 59 | Waldorf 60
• Blocks: Dordt 8.0 | Waldorf 10.0

Dordt Leaders

• Kills: Haley Kuperus – 19; Myra Carlson – 12; Tarren Spartz – 10
• Assists: Carlee Jackson – 31; Chloe Huisman – 19
• Digs: Haley Wielenga – 15; Kylie Beckering – 10; Laney Wolfswinkel – 9
• Blocks: Myra Carlson and Ellie Weg – 4 each
• Ace Serves: Haley Wielenga – 2; Maddy Jackson – 1; Carlee Jackson – 2

NEXT

Dordt will host Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday, October 29 in the final regular season home match of the season.   Dordt will face Morningside on Tuesday, November 4 to conclude the regular season. Dordt currently has a one game lead in the standings over the Tigers and a game and half lead over Morningside in the race for fourth place.
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