The Hillsdale College volleyball team's fifth-straight G-MAC Tournament title didn't come easily on Saturday.
But the Chargers were up to the task when it mattered, taking down a tough Ashland team 25-15, 25-21, 17-25, 25-22 in a showdown of North and South Division Champions to remain unbeaten in five straight G-MAC tournament appearances.
In a high-level, back-and-forth match that included multiple lengthy rallies, Hillsdale's big hitters proved to be the decisive factor. Up 20-19 in the fourth and deciding set, four of Hillsdale's final five points came on kills -- two from freshman Marilyn Popplewell, who got the start for the Chargers and rewarded head coach Chris Gravel's faith with a solid match, and one each from former G-MAC Players of the Year Allyssa Van Wienen and Karoline Shelton.
As a whole in the match, the Chargers finished with 58 kills to Ashland's 46 and out-hit the Eagles .209 to .129. Those advantages at the net were especially pronounced in the three sets Hillsdale won -- in those three sets, Hillsdale outhit the Eagles .247 to .092.
Hillsdale got on top early, jumping out to a big lead in set 1 and using a seven-point run up 17-12 that included three Shelton kills to put away the first set. Ashland came back had in the second set, trailing just 21-20 late, but against Shelton came through in a big way, with three kills in the Chargers' final four points to close out the set.
Backs against the wall, Ashland refused to go quietly in Set 3, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to break a 7-7 tie and force a fourth set that ultimately decided the match.
Shelton had a huge night for the Chargers, putting down 19 kills on a .312 hitting percentage and tying her career high in digs with 28. She got a significant assist the Chargers' senior class, who knew they were likely playing in their final match on their home court and played with a level of intensity befitting the moment. Van Wienen finished with 14 kills and two block assists, fellow senior Madie Schider chipped in 10 digs and two service aces, senior Maggie DePorre added seven kills and two block assists and Maddie Clark chipped in three kills.
Last but not least, senior setter Lindsey Mertz had a match to remember for the Chargers, assisting on 53 of Hillsdale's 58 kills and chipping in 11 digs as well for Hillsdale.
As mentioned above, Popplewell stepped up in a big moment offensively for the Chargers as well, contribuing nine kills on a .222 hitting percentage. Freshman libero Alli Wiese chipped in 25 digs, and sophomore Audrey Riley added eight digs and two service aces as well.
The Chargers are now 27-4 overall and add a fifth G-MAC Tournament title to their fifth regular season title earned earlier this fall. Combined in G-MAC regular season and tournament matches, the Chargers now carry an 85-match win streak in all conference play.
The victory also gives the Chargers the G-MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. Hillsdale was ranked third behind Michigan Tech and Ferris State in the most recent Midwest Regional ranking, and will find out when and where they next play when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on NCAA.com on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Anthony Lupi '22
