The Charger volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 19-ranked Ferris State University Friday night in Big Rapids. The loss drops Hillsdale to 15-12 overall and 7-9 in GLIAC play.
The Bulldogs entered the match as the top-seeded team in the Midwest Region, and lived up to that billing through most of the match. FSU won sets 1 and 2 by scores of 25-22 and 25-15. Hillsdale rallied back to post a 25-22 win in set 3 before falling in a tightly played fourth set 25-21.
There were several positive aspects to the Chargers' play in this match. The team stood up to the big front line of Ferris State with 3 solo blocks and 14 block assists as a team, led by 2 and 4 from senior Erin Holsinger. Sophomore setter Taylor Bennett added 3 block assists in addition to her 30 assists and 2 service aces in the match.
However, the Chargers were undone in part by 9 service errors and 7 aces delivered to them by the Bulldogs.
Hillsdale led 19-17 in set 4 after a pair of kills by Bennett and an attack error by the Bulldogs. However, Ferris State responded with a 6-0 run that suddenly turned the match into a 23-19 lead for the home team.
Holsinger's 11 kills was tied for highest on the team, along with junior Jackie Langer, who had her best match in three weeks. Langer had 11 kills and 14 digs for the Chargers in the loss.
Sophomore Paige VanderWall added 10 kills and handed out a season-high 6 assists with 13 kills and 2 block assists.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale closes out the 2016 regular season at Grand Valley State at 2:00 Saturday.
PHOTO CREDIT: Carly Gouge