Seniors Molly Kennedy and Marcelina Gorny with their parents Nov. 6.

Ashley Van Hoose | Hillsdale Athletic Department

Hillsdale volleyball stormed back to defeat Ohio Dominican University 3-2 after losing the first two sets in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals Nov. 10.

The Chargers will play Ashland University in the semifinals in Ashland, Ohio, Nov. 13. 

In a tight five set match, Hillsdale lost the first two sets 25-15 and 25-19, but came back to win the next three 25-20, 25-20, and 15-13. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Cook led with 16 kills and fifth-year libero and defensive specialist Chloe Pierce had 15 digs. Both teams’ defenses were strong with Hillsdale having a .272 hitting percentage compared to the Panthers’ .253 hitting percentage.

 

The Chargers secured the 5 seed in the tournament after finishing  their last home weekend of the season with a win against Tiffin University and a loss against the University of Findlay Nov. 6-7. They completed their regular season 15-12 overall and 10-5 in the conference. 

“There is more of a sense of urgency,” head coach Chris Gravel said in a press conference after the match against Tiffin Nov. 6.

Hillsdale swept Tiffin 3-0, avenging an earlier loss this season. The Chargers won the first set 25-20, the second 25-21, and the third 25-22.  Senior right side and outside hitter Marcelina Gorny led with 14 kills and Pierce had 12 digs. 

“Tiffin as a team started off really slow and has really picked it up so it was a good challenge for us,” Gravel said. “They are going to the playoffs. It’s important that we play well against teams that are peeking towards the end.”

Hillsdale came back Nov. 7 to play against the Oilers, losing the first set 25-11, 25-14 in the second, and 27-25 in the third. Findlay outhit Hillsdale with a hitting percentage of .261 while Hillsdale only had a .044 hitting percentage. Junior middle and outside hitter Ellie Fles led with 9 kills and sophomore defensive specialist and libero Madison Peal made two aces. 

“I was a little bit surprised on day two against Findlay,” Gravel said. “I thought it was going to be a battle. Since we beat them last time, I knew they were going to be extra motivated to come into our building and play hard, but I did think we were going to put up a little bit more of a fight than we did.”

Gravel said the Chargers have a history of coming back to defeat teams that they have lost to previously. Before the match against the Panthers, he said he hoped the quarterfinal game would continue that trend.

“For the teams that we’ve lost to this year, we seem like we come back and play them really well,” Gravel said. “So the fact that we lost to Ohio Dominican at their place before, I was hoping we get a redo on that one. And I need to be careful what I wish for, but we got it and it’s going to be a redo.”

The Chargers celebrated their seniors, middle hitter Molly Kennedy and Gorny after the game Nov. 6. 

“This program puts you through it and it is so special that you get to go through this with people that coach brings together,” Kennedy said. “It’s such a wide array of girls and they have become my best friends and I’ve gotten to do this for four years with my best friend.” 

Even after they  graduate, Kennedy and Gorny said they will have a connection with the team. Kennedy said a volleyball alumna texted her and Gorny the morning of the senior day match, congratulating them.

“We have generational love,” Gorny said. “The alumna who reached out to us was the most pleasant surprise. It got me thinking that I am so excited that I have so many contacts with so many women that have already passed from this program.”