The third-ranked Hillsdale College volleyball team extended its consolation run at the AVCA Division II National Championships in Dallas, Texas on Friday, beating Henderson State in the Silver Bracket Semifinal to earn a spot in the tournament's final day.
The Chargers overcame a 25-22 loss in the second set to take the third and fourth sets by identical 25-20 scores over the Reddies and advance to the Silver Bracket Final on Saturday at 10 a.m. Central Time at the Dallas Convention Center.
Junior Karoline Shelton led the way for Hillsdale with 15 kills, two aces and 14 digs in the victory, and junior Maggie DePorre had one of the best matches of her Charger career, chipping in 14 kills and five digs.
Freshman Alli Wiese led the Chargers defensively with 21 digs and two aces, and seniors Madie Schider and Lindsey Mertz each chipped in 14 digs as well. At the net, redshirt freshman Linnea Larson chipped in four block assists, and sophomore Megan Kolp added four block assists as well.
Hillsdale faces a familiar foe in the match to decide the Silver Bracket title on Saturday, taking on Gannon for the third time this season. The Knights beat the Chargers 3-1 on Feb. 27, handing Hillsdale its only regular season loss, but the Chargers got revenge in Dallas in pool play action on Thursday, pulling out a 3-2 victory to even the season series at one apiece.
The Chargers and Knights will get a rubber match to break the tie, and the winner also will get some hardware as well.
Photo Courtesy of the AVCA