Courtesy: Florida Southern College
The Hillsdale Charger volleyball team lost against the Florida Southern College Moccasins Sept. 6, winning the first two sets and losing the last three, making them 1-2 overall.
Hillsdale had a strong start in the first set, with a 5-0 run, including two kills from sophomore Caroline Lanicek and an ace from redshirt junior Emory Braswell, to secure a 25-19 victory.
Sophomore outside hitter Ellie Fles said the team’s defense was good in the first set, blocking balls from coming over the net and using its middle players to expose the Mocs weaknesses.
The second set was tight with neither team holding a lead of more than three points. Trailing at 22-21, Hillsdale scored the last four points, taking a 25-22 victory.
Braswell said she was proud of the way she played in the first two sets.
“I did my best to swing fearlessly every single time,” Braswell said.
Braswell also said the first two sets were won because of their excitement and level of trust in one another.
“We were fired up in the first two sets,” Braswell said. “We had high energy but an even, calm level of play. Every player on the court trusted that the person next to them would take care of the ball, and that’s what we did.”
Hillsdale was one set away from victory, but the Mocs came back stronger in the third and fourth sets, bringing both teams to even.
Hillsdale started the fifth set with a 7-3 lead, but the Mocs hit back with a 6-0 run leaving the Chargers with no time to respond. The Chargers lost the game 3-2.
Head coach Chris Gravel said the Chargers lost their energy in the last two sets and were unable to recover. To improve, Gravel said the team will work on consistency in both skill and mindset.
“Our ability to control the ball and recover after errors diminished,” Gravel said. “We appeared to be a little tired at the end of our last two matches. I think a little extra physical and mental conditioning could do us some good.”
According to Fles, the Chargers are going to practice harder this week, with intentional focus on consistency and confidence.
“This week we are going back to practice with fire,” Fles said. “Every game is unique so we need to focus on what we can control, which is our discipline and consistency. To win the next game we need to play confident in ourselves and in each other, and that will continue to develop as we practice hard together.”
Hillsdale travels to Grand Valley State next weekend for three matches in the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic, starting with matches Friday, Sept. 12, against Wheeling University at 10 a.m. and University of Central Missouri at 4 p.m. The Chargers will play Grand Valley State University at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.
