Defending G-MAC Champion Chargers picked to repeat in preseason coaches poll

Jan 05, 2021

In three years in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Hillsdale College volleyball team has won three regular season titles and three tournament titles, with three NCAA DII tournament appearances.

This spring, under unusual circumstances, the Chargers' decorated senior class is looking to improve to four-for-four in all three categories.

Hillsdale is the odds-on favorite to do just that in 2021, based on both past history and the G-MAC preseason coaches poll presented by Under Armour, and released this afternoon by the conference office. The Chargers received a first-place vote from every other coach in the conference, topping the poll with 121 points, 19 more than second-place Tiffin, the 2019 G-MAC runner-up.

The confidence in the Chargers stems from the number of key contributors returning from a 2019 squad that went 28-4, made the Midwest regional final in the NCAA tournament for just the third time in program history, and rolled to an unbeaten record in the G-MAC while dropping just five sets against conference foes all season.

Leading the way for Hillsdale is 2019 All-American and G-MAC Player of the Year Alyssa Van Wienen, who was one of the conference's most fearsome and efficient hitters while also serving as the league's best front-row defensive player. Of the top four players in the G-MAC in kills in 2019, Van Wienen is the only one to also finish in the top 10 in hitting percentage and total blocks, leading the G-MAC in both categories.

She's joined by fellow senior Lindsey Mertz, a four-year starter at setter for the Chargers and a three-time first team All-G-MAC player who's on track to become the school record-holder in assists before she graduates, as well as a lethal outside hitter Karoline Shelton and gifted defensive specialists Madie Schider and Audrey Riley.

The Chargers have two big holes to fill on the court with the graduation of libero Taylor Wiese, a 2019 All-American and the most statistically accomplished libero in program history, and dependable middle hitter Hannah Gates. But Hillsdale has several young players to fill the void, including outside hitter Maggie DePorre and middle hitter Megan Kolp, who both excelled in part-time roles for the Chargers last season.

Hillsdale also gets a huge boost from the return of redshirt junior Maddie Clark, who started the first five matches of 2019 and was off to the best start of her career before a knee injury ended her season. Back and healthy, Clark is another dangerous offensive weapon for a team that's already loaded up front.

To this squad, Hillsdale adds a strong four-player recruiting class that includes libero Alli Wiese, the younger sister of Taylor and a Michigan Ms. Volleyball finalist at Mattawan High School in 2019. Those freshmen have had a full semester of practice after the volleyball season was postponed to the spring, and that added preparation means they could make a larger impact than normal when the Chargers take the floor in late January.

2020 was a challenging year for the Hillsdale College volleyball team, which saw its fall schedule cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and spent several weeks in limbo, unsure if they would get a chance to play this school year.

But the announcement of an 11-match spring conference schedule has re-energized the program, which is hungry to compete for another G-MAC championship in this unprecedented spring campaign.

Hillsdale opens the season at home on Jan. 22 and 23, with matches against G-MAC foes Trevecca Nazarene and Kentucky Wesleyan. Along with the conference slate, the Chargers have added four showcase matches against top non-conference competition, including home dates against Midwest Region foes Ashland (Feb. 10) and Davenport (Feb. 12), and a home-and-home series against a Gannon squad that made the Division II Elite Eight in 2019.

For the full Spring 2021 Charger volleyball schedule, click here. You can find the G-MAC preseason poll in its entirety below.