Perfection is difficult to achieve. But in G-MAC play for the last four years, the 18th-ranked Hillsdale College volleyball team has made it look easily attainable.
The Chargers won their 70th straight G-MAC regular season match on Friday night, sweeping past visiting Lake Erie for a 25-17, 25-11, 25-11 victory. That wins puts Hillsdale on the doorstep of a fourth-consecutive perfect regular season in G-MAC play, with just one match remaining before the conference tournament.
In the victory, Hillsdale got to play 18 of its 19 players on the roster and dominated the match at the net, hitting a scorching .402 with 41 kills and just six attack errors. 14 different players recorded at least one kill for the Chargers in the victory, led by sophomore Linnea Larson, who hit .667 with a match-high seven kills and chipped in three block assists.
Freshman Marilyn Popplewell chipped in six kills and two block assists as well for the Chargers, while junior Karoline Shelton added five kills and four digs despite appearing in just one set for Hillsdale in the match.
Defensively, libero Alli Wiese recorded 12 digs in two sets of play, and senior Maddie Clark added six for the Chargers. Three Hillsdale players -- freshman Maizie Brown, senior Maggie DePorre and sophomore Madeline Zenas -- each recorded two aces for Hillsdale, as the Chargers finished with 10 service aces in the match.
Hillsdale rotated between setters throughout the night, with senior Lindsey Mertz recording 13 assists in Set 3, Lauren Passaglia finishing with nine assists in the first set, and Zenas adding six assists in the second.
The Chargers (24-4, 15-0 G-MAC) wrap up the regular season on Saturday at 5 p.m. against visiting Ursuline. It'll also be senior night for Hillsdale, as the Chargers honor a decorated five player senior class that includes Mertz, DePorre, Clark, Madie Schider and Allyssa Van Wienen.
Photo by Anthony Lupi '22