The Hillsdale College volleyball team's season very easily could have come to an end in Friday's Midwest Regional Semifinal.
That it didn't is a testament to the team's perseverance and resilience.
The third-seeded Chargers blew commanding leads in both the first and third sets to fall behind second-seeded Michigan Tech 2-1 in the match and sit one set away from elimination, but shook off the disappointment and refocused, dominating the fourth and fifth sets to stun the Huskies 26-28, 27-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-11 and advance to their second-consecutive regional final match and fourth-ever in program history.
Hillsdale controlled large portions of the first three sets and had chances to close out the match early, but the Chargers struggled to finish. They led the first set from the start and at one point held a 24-22 lead, but Michigan Tech scored the next two points to tie and ultimately pulled out the set. Hillsdale also held a 24-18 lead in the second set but conceded six straight points to the Huskies and barely pulled out a 27-25 victory, and the Chargers had a 22-19 advantage in set three before Michigan Tech reeled off the final six points to take the set as well.
With their backs to the wall and every reason to be rattled, Hillsdale dug deep and found the intensity and consistency to get the job done in the final two sets. The Chargers opened Set 4 on a 6-1 run and steadily pulled away from there, recording four blocks in the set to shut down a dynamic Michigan Tech offense. Senior Maddie Clark had five of her match-high 15 kills in the set, scoring Hillsdale's first two points to light a fire and seize the momentum back.
In the deciding fifth set, Michigan Tech struck first but Hillsdale quickly tied things up and then never trailed again. The Chargers buried the Huskies at the net with 10 of their 15 points coming on kills. Hillsdale's two former G-MAC Players of the Year, senior Allyssa Van Wienen and junior Karoline Shelton, each had three kills in the fifth set, with Shelton scoring the match-ending point out of a timeout to put the Huskies away for good.
With the match being decided by such narrow margins, it was Hillsdale's superiority at the net that made the difference for the Chargers in the end. Hillsdale outhit Michigan Tech .192 to .124, with four more kills and nine fewer attack errors, and also recorded 13 blocks to Michigan Tech's nine. They weren't big advantages, but with the two teams separated by just 10 points, it proved to be enough in the end.
Clark led the way for Hillsdale, adding two solo blocks and a block assist to her career-high-tying 15 kills in a sensational performance, but the Chargers showed great offensive balance, with both Shelton and Van Wienen each adding 14 kills as well.
Shelton chipped in 26 digs and four total blocks to go with those kills, while Van Wienen added three block assists. The Chargers also got a big offensive contribution from freshman Marilyn Popplewell, who added nine kills, and freshman Maizie Brown and senior Maggie DePorre each chipped in five.
Defensively, senior Madie Schider chipped in 19 digs for Hillsdale, freshman Alli Wiese chipped in 16 digs and three service aces, and sophomore Audrey Riley added 11 digs and an ace as well.
Senior setter Lindsey Mertz had another huge match for the Chargers, dishing out 52 assists and also recording 14 digs to help keep the Chargers advancing.
With the win over Michigan Tech, Hillsdale (29-4) avenges a three-set loss to the Huskies from earlier this season, and also sends Michigan Tech packing for the second-straight tournament after eliminating them in the semifinal round of the 2019 Midwest Regional two years ago as well.
The Chargers will get another rematch in the final against top-seeded Ferris State, who swept the Chargers earlier this season and beat Missouri-St. Louis in three sets on Friday as well to reach the final, which will take place tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Jim Wink Arena. With a victory, Hillsdale can clinch just its second-ever Midwest Regional title in program history, joining the 2011 team as the only two teams in Hillsdale history to win 30 matches and to reach the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament, though it won't come easily against the Bulldogs on their home floor.
Photo Courtesy of Ferris State Athletics