After four consecutive weeks on the road, the Hillsdale College volleyball team is coming home, and it has an impressive record to bring with them. With a 4-1 record in the GLIAC, the Chargers share the South Division’s top spot with Findlay, Ashland, and Tiffin. The Chargers’ 10-2 overall record, however, is the best in the division.
Coming off its longest winning streak in four years, Hillsdale finally suffered a loss during its 12th consecutive road match against Findlay on Tuesday evening. The 3-2 loss ended with a hard-fought 15-11 fifth set in which Findlay committed zero errors to Hillsdale’s three.
“When games are only played to fifteen, a couple of errors can cost you, especially if both teams are good,” Gravel said. “On Tuesday there were plays where we were outright tough. It just wasn’t every play. Tuesday was one of those days where most things went against us, especially late in the match.”
The Oilers came out strong in set one to grab a 25-17 win. From there, the Chargers regained control winning both sets two and three. But in set four, Hillsdale’s 2-1 lead slipped away.
“We had a really good set three but then at end we took our foot off the gas,” Gravel said. “In game four they came out strong and we found ourselves way behind. When things aren’t going well we need to adjust and flick that switch to move forward instead of look back and realize what we’re doing wrong.”
Gravel said that the Chargers’ serve receive, which has been steady throughout the beginning of the season, suffered against the Oilers’ tough serving performance. The Oilers dropped 10 aces on the Chargers over the course of the match.
“In the games we won, we had a lot of synergy and made a lot of aggressive plays,” senior right side hitter Haylee Booms said. “The games we lost we had too many unforced errors on our side of the net and that cost us momentum which is really important in volleyball.”
In the sets that they won, the Chargers held Findlay’s powerful offense to .103 and .062. In the match as a whole, Hillsdale outhit Findlay .298 to .248. While Findlay’s Hannah Tong and Julie Lyons recorded 21 and 16 of the Oilers’ 59 kills, respectively, the Chargers’ offensive success was more spread out.
Junior middle hitter Erin Holsinger saw her second double-digit kill match of the season as she led her team with 12 kills. Holsinger also smacked down seven of the team’s 12 blocks.
“If you watch Erin play you see that she’s just a hardworking middle player, and I mean that as a big compliment,” Gravel said. “She was just working continuously every play whether she was getting the ball or not.”
Booms played her third consecutive errorless game and had nine kills to go with an impressive .692 hitting percentage. Freshmen outside hitters Paige VanderWall and Kara Vyletel slammed 10 and nine kills, respectively, while senior middle hitter Emily Wolfert contributed eight kills.
Tuesday’s loss was preceded by the team’s fourth straight winning weekend. Hillsdale defeated Northwood on Friday 3-2 then Lake Superior State on Saturday 3-0.
“Over the weekend, I felt like when something had to be done we did it,” Gravel said.
On Friday, Hillsdale played its first tiebreaker set of the season against Northwood. After the Timberwolves jumped to a 7-4 lead in the fifth set, the Chargers pushed back with a 7-2 run to seal the 15-11 win.
VanderWall smacked down two of her 12 kills to contribute to the Chargers’ run. Booms slammed her 11th kill to give Hillsdale its first lead. From there, Holsinger and Booms recorded back-to-back blocks to end the errorless set and secure the match victory.
In the match as a whole, the Chargers committed only 11 errors while the Timberwolves committed 29. Three Chargers, each with 11 kills, committed one or fewer errors. Booms began her errorless weekend on Friday, while Wolfert and Vyletel each made just one error. Holsinger also had an errorless game as she had six kills and five blocks.
On Saturday, the Chargers took advantage of the Lake Superior State Lakers in a 3-0 victory. Hillsdale played a dominant first two sets, defeating the Lakers 25-12 and 25-6. The Lakers fought back in set three and threatened to push the Chargers into a fourth set as they grabbed a 22-15 lead. Nevertheless, the Chargers got back to business with a 11-2 run to end the match in three sets.
Wolfert led her team with 11 kills while Booms contributed eight kills and hit a season-high .727.
Tomorrow, the Chargers will play the season’s first match in the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena against the Northern Michigan Wildcats at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Hillsdale will host Michigan Tech at 2 p.m.
“It’ll be nice to be at home. I’d be lying if I didn’t say the long road trip might have gotten to us a little bit,” Gravel said.
Michigan Tech, currently 4-1 in the conference, is coming off a three-set win over Northern on Tuesday and, according to Gravel, enjoying one of its best seasons in years.
“They’re strong teams, but that’s what we need,” Gravel said. “We need to continue playing strong competition because it holds us to a higher standard for a longer period of time.”
The Chargers are eager to play in front of their fans in their home gym. Friday will be especially exciting for the four freshmen as they suit up for the first home match of their careers.
“I can’t wait to come out swinging, and play a relaxed great match,” Vyletel said. “I can’t wait to feel the energy on the court with the combination of our energy and the student section’s.”
