Volleyball enters league play after historic weekend

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Volleyball enters league play after historic weekend

Volleyball Vs. Northwood

For the first time since 2006, the Hillsdale women’s volleyball team went 4-0 in a weekend tournament. Hillsdale defeated Mercyhurst and Ursuline last Friday then continued their winning streak on Saturday beating Pittsburgh-Johnstown and Cedarville. The perfect weekend improved the Chargers’ record to 6-1 as they enter conference play this Friday at Lake Erie at 7 p.m.

“Since I’ve been here this is the best we’ve ever started, so that makes me feel really good,” senior co-captain setter Marissa Owen said. “We’ve usually done really well in conference so I’m not too worried, but I know a lot of teams have some good lineups this year. All of our games are going to be battles.”

Head coach Chris Gravel identified his team’s strength last weekend to be its accurate passes and digs.

“We’ve made some really nice passes in transition so we are able to run the offense. Everybody seems to want the ball right now and our setters are delivering.”

Junior middle hitter Erin Holsinger agreed.

“We passed really well so then we were able to run our offense really well,” she said. “When we do that it makes everything flow.”

The weekend’s accurate passes allowed the Chargers to run a powerful offense and utilize multiple hitters. Owen, who had a season-high 30 assists against Mercyhurst, said she enjoyed setting because of her hitters’ versatility.

“I have so many options,” Owen said. “If one lineup isn’t working I can say, ‘Hey, you go here instead,’ and I can mix it up. That’s been really helpful especially if we’re stuck in a rotation and we can make changes.”

The weekend featured three different leaders in kills, and, in total, five Chargers racked up double-digit kills during single matches. Holsinger said the Chargers’ offense has been a full team effort.

“It really just depends on the day, everyone’s numbers are up there,” Holsinger said regarding kills. “We spread the sets out pretty evenly which is why our offensive is so effective. It’s also nice having freshmen come in and be able to rack up a lot of points and be so effective and so young.”

On Friday, one of those effective freshman Paige VanderWall spiked 15 kills against Mercyhurst, the most kills by a freshman in a single match since 2012. VanderWall then continued to lead her team with 11 kills against Ursuline.

An impressive performance by senior defensive specialist Jenalle Beaman started on Friday when she picked up a season-high 19 digs for the Chargers. Beaman, who stepped into the defensive specialist role this season, continued to lead her team in digs throughout the weekend.

“I can’t say enough about Jenalle stepping into the libero role,” Gravel said. “It’s funny, in hitters’ warmups she’s been the hardest hitter in the gym. The other coaches are like, ‘Why do you have her at libero?’ and well, our libero is hurt and she plays that position very well and we have other people who can get kills. It’s absolutely hilarious, but she’s gone in there and just embraced it.”

On Saturday, senior co-captain right side hitter Haylee Booms led her team with 12 kills against Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Then, against Cedarville, freshman outside hitter Kara Vyletel led with 15 kills while senior middle hitter Emily Wolfert contributed 13 kills and 9 blocks. Vyletel and Wolfert were each named to the All-Tournament team.

Saturday also showcased the Charger’s effective front row offense, according to Holsinger who committed 10 of the team’s 15 blocks against Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

“I was not alone,” Holsinger said. “We had a really good blocking weekend and we will continue working on it this week. We want to be the best blocking team in the GLIAC.”

The Chargers have been running a 6-2 offense, utilizing both Owen and freshman Taylor Bennett as setters. This offense allows the Chargers to employ right side hitters such as Booms and junior Kyra Rodi who had an errorless match and six kills against Ursuline.

Gravel said this is the most playing time he’s ever given to a freshman setter.

“Looking back at great setters in the past, they didn’t set a whole lot their freshman year,” Gravel said. “We don’t know how the season is going to end out, we might end out with Marissa setting a 5-1 or Taylor setting a 5-1, but right now this gives us a great chance of winning.”

The Chargers hope to carry their high chances of winning into conference play as they head to Lake Erie this Friday. Kevin Foeman, who served as the assistant coach at Hillsdale for the past two years, is in his first year as the Storm’s head coach. Owen and Holsinger said the team is excited to see Foeman, and also to show him and his new team their talent.

“We’re really excited to see what he’s done with the program because he’s really excited to turn it around and all we’re really hoping that he does,” Owen said. “We play them again on our senior night which will be perfect because Foeman will get to be there for that. But coach Gravel mentioned that we want to make them scared to come back at the end of the season, and we’re ready to do that.”

On Saturday, the Chargers will travel to Ashland to take on the Eagles at 2 p.m. Gravel said matches against Ashland have always been competitive due to rivalry and similar playing styles.

“Whenever we play, it doesn’t matter what anybody’s record is, it’s always a long, drawn-out, hard match with a lot emotion,” Gravel said. “For lack of better terms, our teams just don’t like each other. We respect them but we just don’t like them.”