There couldn't have been a worse way to end a season than how the Hillsdale College volleyball team ended its season Saturday afternoon.
There also couldn't have been a better way for the Hillsdale College volleyball team to complete its history in the GLIAC than with a win over its most bitter rival on the road.
Both statements are true, as the Chargers experienced a mixed bag of emotions in their 3-1 victory over Grand Valley State Saturday afternoon in Allendale. For the first time since 2002, Hillsdale failed to qualify for the GLIAC Tournament, ending its season with an overall record of 16-12, going 8-9 in the GLIAC.
The team was mathematically eliminated from the conference tournament thanks to its loss at Ferris State Friday. But Hillsdale took a nothing-to-lose mindset into its match with the Lakers and put together one of its finest performances of the season.
All four sets were decided by the minimum of two points. Hillsdale won both the first two sets 25-23 to jump ahead 2-0. The Lakers responded with a 25-23 win of their own in set 3, setting up the fourth set, brilliantly played by both teams.
Hillsdale faced deficits of 7-3 and 11-6 in the fourth set before it battled back. An 11-5 run, capped by a block by Paige VanderWall and Kyra Rodi, gave the Chargers a 17-16 lead, and it would be a typical tight set from there.
GVSU again appeared to be ready to force a fifth set when it took a 23-20 lead late in set 4. But the Chargers found one more burst of energy and great play, going on a stunning 4-0 run to take a 24-23 lead. The match would go back and forth from there, with extra points being necessary. After the teams were tied at 25, Rodi delivered a solo block and the Lakers committed a hitting error, clinching the match for the Chargers.
Hillsdale held Grand Valley State to a .117 team hitting percentage in the match. The Charger defense was up to the task as well, with five players recording 12 or more digs, led by a season-high 22 from junior Jackie Langer. Fellow junior Brittany Jandasek also set a season-high with 20 digs.
Offensively, sophomores Paige VanderWall and Kara Vyletel combined for 30 kills on the day, with VanderWall's 16 leading the team. Both players registered more than 300 kills on the season, becoming the first teammates to hit that mark since 2012. VanderWall's much improved defense was also on display, as she racked up 14 digs for Hillsdale.
Senior middle hitter Erin Holsinger played like it was her last match, and was fantastic the whole way, finishing with 14 kills, a .355 hitting percentage, and 5 digs. Rodi was huge at the net all match with 2 solo blocks and 4 block assists to go along with 4 kills.
Sophomore setter Taylor Bennett directed the offense with skill and smarts, handing out 50 assists to go along with 12 digs.
Grand Valley State moves on to the GLIAC Tournament as its No. 8 seed, finishing conference play with a 9-8 record, one game better than Hillsdale. However, the Chargers swept the Lakers in their two regular season meetings, Hillsdale's last in the GLIAC. If a silver lining can exist in a season without postseason play, that is a pretty darn good one for the Chargers.
PHOTO CREDIT: Todd Lancaster