The Hillsdale College volleyball team didn't take kindly to losing a set by 11 points.
The Chargers came back from a 25-14 loss to Lake Erie College in the second set of their Sunday afternoon match to post two impressive set wins, winning the match vs. the Storm 3-1 in Painesville, Ohio. The win capped a perfect 3-0 weekend for Hillsdale, who is now 17-6 overall and 14-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Hillsdale won set 1 25-18, but suffered its most lopsided set loss of the season in set 2, 25-14. The Storm jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back, hitting .571 as a team in that set, tying the match at 1-1. It was also the first time the Chargers have lost a set 2 in conference play this year.
But in set 3, Hillsdale came out with renewed purpose and energy and were in firm control of the match the rest of the way, winning 25-19 and 25-13 to close out the four-set win. Hillsdale limited Lake Erie to a team hitting percentage of .119 over the final two sets of the match.
A key factor in those final two sets was the inspired play of sophomore outside hitter Maddie Clark. She came off the bench to record 10 kills, 4 digs and a block, her best match since the season's first weekend. Clark's power was evident and was too much for the Storm defense to contend with.
Senior Kara Vyletel wrapped up an impressive weekend with 15 kills and a .591 hitting percentage, committing just one hitting error in the win.
Junior middle hitter Hannah Gates was strong at the net with 10 kills, and senior Paige VanderWall had 13 kills, 5 assists and 3 digs.
Sophomore setter Lindsey Mertz piled up 49 assists and a season-high 17 digs, directing the Hillsdale offense to a nifty .313 team hitting percentage. Junior Taylor Wiese matched Mertz's 17 digs, while Madie Schider and Maggie DePorre had 9 digs apiece.
PHOTO: Todd Lancaster