TIFFIN, Ohio -- There's no place like home, especially when you can have more than 250 of your friends there to cheer you on. 

The Heidelberg University volleyball team opened the 2021 season with a resounding sweep of Defiance College in front of a raucous crowd in Seiberling Gymnasium.  The Student Princes won 25-17, 27-25, 25-16.  

Senior Maddie Szawranskyj filled up the stat sheet with 12 kills, three aces and two blocks.  Classmate Sarah Oney had a game-high 20 digs in the back row.  

Anamya Truex was fierce in the front row, contributing eight kills and eight blocks.  

Setters Julianna Pena (15 assists) and Kelsey Custenborder (13 assists) controlled the attack for The Berg.  

Heidelberg controlled the entire first set and resisted a mid-set surge by Defiance.  HU closed the set with a strong run.  

The second set featured 15 tied scores and five lead changes.  A string of service aces by the Yellow Jackets forced the set past 25.  A Truex kill and a Defiance error propelled HU to a 27-25 win.  

The third set was all Heidelberg.  HU led by as many as 17-5 and coasted to victory.  

"I loved the energy of the crowd," said Head Coach Jason Miller. "I thought our team fed off the energy and played well."

As a team, Heidelberg attacked at a .225 clip and held the visitors to .051.  

Heidelberg heads to the Sommer Center Spiketacular at Bluffton University over the weekend.  There, HU will face Ohio Wesleyan, Alma, Trine and the hosts.