FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's volleyball team began their Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) campaign on Wednesday evening as they hosted the newcomer to the conference, Defiance College, in the Schaefer Center. Taking three of the four sets, the Warriors picked up the win to begin their conference season on the right foot.
 
A slow start in the opening set tripped the Warriors up, leading to a 17-10 deficit. Looking for a spark, junior transfer Katie Gostovich came through with a kill, setting the Warriors onto a 7-0 run to level the score at 17. After trading a few points with the Yellow Jackets, the Orange and Black continued to build on the momentum of their game-tying run with a 7-1 run to finish the set and complete the comeback. The Yellow Jackets stung back in the second set, outlasting Tech 25-23 to level the match. Although it was another close battle, the Warriors controlled the third set. Led by Noelle VanOort's eight kills in the set, the Warriors pilled short 3-0 and 4-0 runs together to keep a steady grasp on the set, eventually taking it 25-20. Tech came out firing on all cylinders in the match's final set, jumping to an early 10-1 lead, which ultimately proved too much for Defiance to overcome as the Warriors marched to a 25-15 fourth-set win to seal the match.
 
The Warriors were led by Noelle VanOort with 20 kills, Hanna Teich with 3 aces, Jacqueline Allaway with 2 blocks, Sara Gomperts with 35 assists, and VanOort with 13 digs.
 
Tech improves to 3-6 on the season and sits 1-0 in the WHAC. The Orange and Black returns to action on Friday as they host the annual Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament. Tech faces IU Northwest in the tournament opener at 2:00 p.m.