Charger volleyball dominated its weekend of competition at home against the Tiffin University Dragons and Findlay University Oilers, winning 3-0 in both games. 

On Friday, they played the Dragons, winning 25-12, 25-22, and 25-16. On Saturday, they beat the Oilers 25-17, 25-17, and 25-23.

Hillsdale’s win over Findlay secured them the top playoff seed for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship tournament. Last week, Findlay was ranked second, behind Hillsdale, in the G-MAC North standings. With their win, Hillsdale has secured the top spot, while Findlay moves down to third.

“Hillsdale’s 12-1 record also means they have guaranteed that they can finish no worse than tied for the best conference record across the G-MAC as a whole, regardless of division, because all the other teams in the G-MAC are two or more losses behind with only two matches to go,” Director of Athletic Communications James Gensterblum said in an email.

The Chargers played well and communicated effectively throughout both matches, according to head coach Chris Gravel. 

Seniors Mazie Brown, Lauren Passaglia, and Marilyn Popplewell led scoring for the Chargers over the weekend. Popplewell made 21 kills, Passaglia made 16 kills, and Brown made 15 kills. Brown was also recognized as G-MAC Volleyball Athlete of the Week. 

Freshman Ellie Fles said the Chargers effectively were able to counter the opposing teams last weekend.

“We did a good job at focusing on our own runs, like when the other team would get a point, we would make sure that we got the next two,” Fles said. “We focus a lot on our runs of five, and I think we did that very well.”

Head coach Chris Gravel said the team is beginning to use their experience from earlier in the season, and that this experience helped them over the weekend and as they look to the end of their season. 

“I think the confidence in themselves and each other has been growing all year, and we’re in the spot where we’re playing pretty well,” Gravel said. 

This weekend, on Nov. 15, the Chargers will travel to the Walsh University Cavaliers to play at 6 p.m. They then travel to the Malone University Pioneers for a game at 1 p.m. on Nov. 16.

Gravel said the Cavaliers also won both their games last weekend, and he believes this will give them momentum into their games against the Chargers.

“We have two hot teams meet each other Friday at Walsh,” Gravel said. “The last time we played there we lost. They had their entire football team there, and we lost in five sets. So we’re hoping to correct that a little bit, and get a little revenge from last year.”