The Charger volleyball team was unable to complete a weekend sweep of GLIAC North Division foes this weekend.
Less than 24 hours after a stirring win over Grand Valley State, Hillsdale was on the losing end of a 3-0 decision against 21st-ranked Ferris State University in a match played at the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. The loss drops the Chargers to 7-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Hillsdale struggled to achieve offensive smoothness and ominance throughout the match. FSU dominated the opening set, winning 25-16. Both the second and third sets were tied after each team reached 20 points, but the Bulldogs were able to dig out enough clutch plays to emerge on top, winning those sets 25-20 and 25-21.
Ferris State went on a 6-0 run to finish off the second set, after the Chargers had built a 20-19 lead. A service ace by junior Jackie Langer gave Hillsdale a 21-20 lead in set three, but again, Ferris State finished strong, scoring the final five points of the set to clinch the match.
Although Ferris State had a team hitting percentage of just .195, its defense did the job on the Charger offense, limiting Hillsdale to a team hitting percentage of .090.
Sophomore Paige VanderWall led Hillsdale with 9 kills, while Langer had 8 kills, 8 digs and 4 block assists. Sophomore setter Taylor Bennett had 28 assists, while freshman Emily Lachmann led the defense with 12 digs. Freshman libero Taylor Wiese added 10 digs.
PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Vyletel
UP NEXT: Hillsdale hosts Ohio Dominican (7 p.m. Friday) and Lake Erie (noon Saturday) on homecoming weekend.