Freshman Ella Bryum reaches to return the ball
Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department
The Hillsdale volleyball team lost its first two in-conference games Sept. 19-20 in the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena, now standing 2-6 overall and 0-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
On Friday night the Chargers lost to the Ohio Dominican University Panthers, and on Saturday afternoon lost against the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets. In both games the Chargers lost three of four sets.
The Chargers had a rough start on Friday, but fought back in the third set with 19 kills, winning the set 25-18. The Chargers led the fourth set with three service aces but after a back-and-forth with two kills from senior Adi Sysum, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run, winning the match.
The next day, the Chargers faced the Yellow Jackets, winning set two 25-22, but taking the loss for sets one, three, and four.
Junior Chloe Pierce said the team has been focusing on consistency in their aggression from set to set, something that will help them as they look forward to future games.
“In our second match against Cedarville, we really found momentum and didn’t let up,” Pierce said. “We became a lot more aggressive while serving, made more plays defensively, and our hitters were finding open spots on the court to score, helping us to pull out the second set win.”
Set three was dominated by the Chargers 9-0 until the Yellow Jackets took over at point 10 for an exciting back-and-forth. The set was an even 19-19, but in the end the Yellow Jackets won set three.
The Chargers were strong in their aces and blocks, but couldn’t overcome the Yellow Jackets’ 65 kills compared to Hillsdale’s 48.
Junior Emory Braswell led the Chargers offensively. She finished set four with 14 kills, 12 digs, and two service aces, and sophomore Caroline Lanicek added 12 kills and four blocks.
“I’m grateful to have been able to lead my team in kills, however I know there is still more I can give to my team,” Braswell said. “I’m thankful for another week of practice where we can work hard together and find more ways to score.”
Head coach Chris Gravel said the team kept high spirits throughout both games and are all the more determined to perform better in the next game.
“We played hard, but we’re better than what we showed,” Gravel said. “So we can make great plays, but we haven’t reached that consistency yet.”
Sophomore Ava Caggiano went to Saturday’s game against Cedarville and said she enjoyed seeing the Chargers give their all.
“They definitely stayed motivated till the end,” Caggiano said.
The Chargers are going to give special attention to their offense this week in practice, according to Gravel.
“We’re going to have some very specific things that we’re going to work on, as far as offense, so that we can put the ball away more,” Gravel said. “Right now, we need to generate an offense that can score more points quickly.”
Hillsdale will travel to Midland, Michigan, to face off against Northwood University on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m., competing for “The Jack” All Sports traveling trophy, an annual award given to the champion.
