As the spring 2021 volleyball season gets underway, the 12th-ranked Hillsdale College Chargers have the same main goal as ever -- win the G-MAC Championship.
But an important secondary goal is building chemistry and experience across the roster, including in talented freshmen and sophomore classes.
The opening weekend, evaluated with both goals in mind, was a smashing success for the Chargers, who downed visiting Kentucky Wesleyan 25-15, 25-20, 25-15 on Saturday at home to complete the weekend sweep.
Just as in Hillsdale's opening night win over Trevecca on Friday, all 13 players who dressed played in at least one set for the Chargers against the Panthers on Friday, and just like against the Trojans, all 13 acquitted themselves well in a comfortable three-set sweep.
Hillsdale started the match strong, jumping out to a 13-2 lead in the first set and never looking back, and building a similar advantage in the third set to roll to a victory as well.
A slow start coupled with a determined effort by the Panthers in the second set saw Hillsdale fall behind 4-1 early on, but the Chargers went on a 7-1 run sparked by back-to-back kills by junior Karoline Shelton to seize control for good.
Shelton led the Chargers offensively again on Saturday, following up her 13-kill performance against Trevecca on Friday with a team-high nine kills against KWC, as well as five digs.
The junior was one of six Chargers with three or more kills on the night as a balanced Hillsdale offense overwhelmed the Panthers at the net with attacks from every angle.
Defensively, the Chargers dominated the net as well. Hillsdale finished with nine blocks on the night, led by junior Maggie DePorre's 2.5 blocks and two blocks each for senior Allyssa Van Wienen and freshman Maizie Brown.
Van Wienen chipped six kills in just two sets of action for the Chargers, and DePorre and Brown each finished with five as well for Hillsdale. Sophomore middle hitter Megan Kolp also chipped in four kills and a block assist.
Defensively, freshman Alli Wiese made her first start at libero for the Chargers, finishing with 12 digs and an ace, and senior defensive specialist Madie Schider also had a strong night in the back row, finishing with 11 digs and three aces.
Setters Lindsey Mertz and Madeline Zenas split duties for the Chargers, with Mertz, a senior, tallying 21 assists in two sets of action and Zenas, a sophomore, adding nine assists in her one set.
The Chargers were stellar defensively on the night, holding Kentucky Wesleyan to a -.087 hitting percentage and forcing the Panthers into 28 attack errors.
Now 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the G-MAC, Hillsdale looks to stay on top of the conference as it makes its first road trip next weekend to Canton, Ohio, with matches on Friday night at 7 p.m. against Malone and 11 a.m. on Saturday morning at Walsh.
Photo by Anthony Lupi
