After a two-year wait, the moment has finally arrived.
The 16th-ranked Hillsdale College volleyball heads to Ferris State this Thursday to play in the NCAA Midwest Regional for the first time since falling just short of the program's second-ever regional title in 2019.
Eight players who appeared on that team that played for the regional title in 2019 return, and there's an air of unfinished business surrounding the Chargers' trip to Big Rapids. With so much back, and a region-best 27-4 overall record, Hillsdale will be among the favorites to take home the crown.
But the title won't come easily, if it comes at all, for the Chargers. Hillsdale likely will have to go through at least one, and probably both, of the two teams that handed them their only two regional losses this season -- top-seeded Ferris St., the host, and second-seeded Michigan Tech. And there's peril in every match in one of the deepest regions in the country, where any of the eight teams could plausibly see themselves lifting the championship trophy and earning a spot in Tampa, Florida for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight round beginning on Dec. 9.
Check out a full preview of this weekend's event below.
Schedule
Quarterfinal #1: #7 Wayne St. (20-8) vs #2 Michigan Tech (24-6) | 12 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Quarterfinal #2: #6 Grand Valley St. (17-9) vs #3 Hillsdale (27-4) | 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Quarterfinal #3: #8 Rockhurst (20-11) at #1 Ferris St. (25-4) | 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Quarterfinal #4: #5 Missouri St. Louis (24-8) vs #4 Lewis (26-6) | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Semifinal #1: QF1 winner vs QF2 winner | 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Semifinal #2: QF3 winner vs QF4 winner | 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Final: SF1 winner vs SF2 winner | 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, MI
Follow/Watch
Quarterfinal #2 Live Stats | Quarterfinal #2 Video | Semifinal #1 Live Stats | Semifinal #1 Video | Final Live Stats | Final Video | Tickets
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | 2021 Hillsdale Stats | Tournament Central
Players to Watch
Hillsdale: #7 Karoline Shelton, Jr., OH, Shawnee, KS/Mission South (5th G-MAC in K/S, 6th in P/S, 6th in D/S, 11th in hitting %); #9 Allyssa Van Wienen, Sr., MH, Grand Rapids, MI/Christian (1st G-MAC in B/S, 9th in K/S, 5th in P/S, 5th in hitting %); #4 Alli Wiese, Fr., L/DS, Mattawan, MI/Mattawan (2nd G-MAC in D/S, 6th in SA/S), #15 Lindsey Mertz, Sr., S, Frankenmuth, MI/Frankenmuth (1st G-MAC in A/S)
Grand Valley St.: #9 Ali Thompson, Jr, OH, Cincinnati OH/Ursuline Academy (8th GLIAC in K/S, 6th in SA/S, 5th in P/S); #7 Sarah Wight, So., MB, Port Huron, MI/Northern (9th GLIAC in K/S, 5th in B/S); #8 Rachel Jacquay, So., S, Fort Wayne, IN/Carroll (2nd GLIAC in A/S); #11 Erin O'Leary, So., S, Novi, MI/University of Michigan (9th GLIAC in D/S)
Michigan Tech: #6 Anna Joynas, Sr., OH, Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg (2nd GLIAC in K/S, 2nd in P/S, 5th in SA/S); #14 Olivia Ghormley, Sr., OH, Oneida, WI/Pulaski (5th GLIAC in K/S); #11 Laura De Marchi, Sr., S, Milan, Italy/Whittemore-Prescott (MI) (1st GLIAC in A/S); #20 Carissa Beyer, Jr., DS/L, Appleton, WI/Dayton (3rd GLIAC in D/S)
Wayne St.: #20 Lauren VanderWal, Sr., OH, Caledonia, MI/Caledonia (7th GLIAC in K/S, 10th GLIAC in P/S); #7 Kamryn Duffield, Sr., S, Romeo, MI/Romeo (4th GLIAC in A/S); #5 Maddy Benoit, Jr., DS/L, Farmington, MI/Mercy (8th GLIAC in D/S); #9 Halle Shell, Jr., MB, Port Huron, MI/Northern (3rd GLIAC in B/S)
Ferris: #7 Katie O'Connell, Sr., RS, Evergreen Park, IL/Chicago Mother McAuley (4th GLIAC in K/S, 4th in P/S, 8th in D/S); #12 Kaylee Maat, Fr., S, Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville (3rd GLIAC in A/S, 9th SA/S); #6 Nina Gorgijevska, Sr., L, Potsdam, Germany/Colby Community College (1st GLIAC in D/S); #3 Samantha Hermann, Sr., MH, Channahon, IL/Minooka (9th GLIAC in B/S)
Rockhurst: #12 Averi Vomastic, Sr., RS, Shawano, WI/Shawano (8th GLVC in K/S, 5th in P/S); #9 Justice Wingate, Sr., MB, Toledo, OH/Notre Dame Academy (2nd GLVC in B/S); #10 Maureen Reilly, So., L/DS, Overland Park, KS/St. James Academy (3rd GLVC in D/S); #17 Morgan Conner, Sr., MH, Kansas City, MO/North Kansas City (8th GLVC in hitting %)
Lewis: #27 Ava Venema, Sr., MH, Westmont, IL/Timothy Christian, UNC Asheville (2nd GLVC in hitting %, 4th in K/S, 4th in P/S); #6 Juliana Van Loo, Jr., RS/MH, Burbank, CA/John Burroughs (3rd GLVC in hitting %, 5th in K/S, 8th in P/S); #1 Lauren Stenman, So, S, Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul (1st GLVC in A/S); #5 Jamie Poppen, Sr., L, Ballwin, MO/Parkway West (1st GLVC in D/S)
Missouri-St. Louis: #8 Charlotte Richards, Sr., OH, Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier (1st GLVC in K/S, 1st in P/S); #3 Kaileen Herman, Sr., S, Tinley Park, IL/Andrew, North Florida (3rd GLVC in A/S); #1 Megan Woll, Sr., L/DS, Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville (2nd GLVC in D/S); #18 Lexie Rang, Jr., OH, Miamisburg, OH/Miamisburg (3rd GLVC in SA/S)
Scouting the Chargers
Hillsdale: The five-time defending G-MAC Champions now turn their sights to unfinished business in the NCAA Midwest Regional tournament, where the Chargers reached the regional final in 2019 and are looking for their first regional crown since 2011
The Chargers return every player that saw action in the partial spring 2021 season, including four players who were slated to graduate in the spring of 2021 but who couldn't pass up the opportunity to make one more run at NCAA glory after a Covid-19 waiver was extended to preserve their eligibility.
That core group of unprecedented fifth-year players – Allyssa Van Wienen, Lindsey Mertz, Madie Schider and Maddie Clark – is just the tip of the iceberg on a loaded and talented roster that may be the deepest in Hillsdale College history.
Van Wienen, a consensus 2019 All-American and the 2019 G-MAC Player of the Year, is joined up front by junior Karoline Shelton, who was the G-MAC Player of the Year in the 2021 spring season, along with a host of past All-G-MAC honorees – senior Maggie DePorre, sophomore Megan Kolp, and freshman Maizie Brown (who played with the Chargers in the spring) – to give Hillsdale a formidable group of hitters.
The decorated Mertz, who holds both Hillsdale's single season and career assist records, conducts the offense from the setter position, and Hillsdale proved in the spring it has a capable backup in Madeline Zenas, who was named to the All-G-MAC third team after filling in for Mertz following an injury.
In the back row, Schider, top 10 in program history in digs, is joined by sophomore Audrey Riley and freshman Alli Wiese, a breakout star at libero who earned first-team All-G-MAC honors in the spring, to give the Chargers an elite back row.
Returning Chargers at all positions have been pushed by a strong and talented five-player freshman class who've augmented the Chargers already enviable depth.
Coaching the Chargers for the 26th year is Chris Gravel, who's built Hillsdale's program from the ground up and into one of the top programs in the Midwest Region. Under Gravel, the Chargers have won nine conference regular season titles, eight conference tournament titles, made 13 NCAA Division II tournament appearances, won the Midwest Regional title in 2011, and reached the NCAA DII Final Four in that same year.
Scouting the Field
#1 Ferris State: The tournament host won the GLIAC South Division title and beat second-seeded Michigan Tech in five sets in the GLIAC Tournament Championship game two weekends ago. The Bulldogs are 1-1 against the Huskies and have wins over four other regional qualifiers.
Ferris has one of the top liberos in the Midwest Region in Gorgijevska and an All-American outside hitter in O'Connell, but it's the Bulldogs' offensive balance – with significant contributions from Hermann, Keona Salesman and Olivia Henneman-Dallape that make Ferris a top contender, and possibly the favorite, to bring home the regional crown.
#2 Michigan Tech: Although the Huskies lost the GLIAC Tourney crown to Ferris, they did so without Ghormley, who may be back this weekend. When fully healthy, Michigan Tech is one of the scariest offensive teams in the bracket, averaging a Midwest Region best 14.46 kills per set with three legitimate elite hitters – Joynas, Ghormley and sophomore outside hitter Lindy Oujiri.
Directing the show for the Huskies is veteran senior setter Laura De Marchi, who is sixth in the nation in assists per set and a key part of a veteran team determined to bring home the program's first ever regional title.
#4 Lewis: A perennial factor in the NCAA Midwest Regional, the GLVC champions rolled through conference play with a combined 20-1 record, but struggled in losses to #2 Michigan Tech and #3 Hillsdale in the Midwest Regional Crossover to fall to the #4 seed.
The Flyers are also a veteran team with the top libero in terms of digs per set in the Midwest Region in Poppen, and two extremely productive hitters from the middle in Venema and Van Loo. While consistency against top opponents has been an issue for Lewis this season, there's no doubt the Flyers have the talent to go all the way if they can continue their recent run of form, including 12 straight match wins.
#5 Missouri St. Louis: The Tritons boast the single most dominant offensive player in the Midwest Region, and, possibly, the country in GLVC Player of the Year Richards, and that alone gives UMSL a shot at a regional crown.
Against other teams in the bracket, however, UMSL has just a 2-5 record, with both of their wins coming against the #7 and #8 seeds. The Tritons need more consistency offensively to support Richards against other elite teams at the net, and five-set losses to #3 Hillsdale and #4 Lewis prove it's possible. Middle hitters Mya Elliott and Paige Yoder will be key players and strong play from them is critical to UMSL's hopes of making a run.
#6 Grand Valley St.: The Lakers are one of the most unpredictable teams in the bracket – younger than almost every other squad with only one senior on the roster, and a set of results that shows they can compete with anyone in the region on a good day, or be out of the tournament on a bad day.
GVSU boasts a balanced offense led by Thompson and Wight that can put pressure on opposing defenses, took #1 seed Ferris St. to five sets on their home floor and are one of just two teams in the bracket with a win over #2 Michigan Tech. If the Lakers play to their potential, they could be playing for a championship on Saturday, but they'll have to be more consistent than they were in GLIAC play.
#7 Wayne St.: While every other team in the Midwest Region is a frequent participant in the NCAA Tournament, this is a historic season for the Warriors – who are making their first appearance since 1994.
The Warriors have the talent to hang around for more than just the opening match if things go their way, too. VanderWal is a strong and experienced player up front, and Wayne St. also has a veteran setter in Duffield. An upset of #2 Michigan Tech, which has beaten the Warriors twice this season, is a tall task, but not impossible for a 20-win squad that went 11-4 in GLIAC play.
#8 Rockhurst: The defending Midwest Regional champions return just one player that saw the floor in that 2019 championship match, middle blocker Wingate, and had to sweat out the tournament draw for their seventh straight NCAA bid.
But while the Hawks are lacking experience, they have a strong program pedigree that includes three consecutive regional final appearances and two Midwest Regional crowns in that stretch. Wingate is a force at the net, as is Vomastic, and Reilly is one of the top liberos in the event. Rockhurst has pushed #4 Lewis to five sets this season and shouldn't be counted out despite a tough draw against #1 seed Ferris St. to open the event.
Other Notes
- Hillsdale was ranked in the AVCA DII Top 25 poll for the 40th consecutive week on Nov. 22, 2021, coming in at 16th after starting the season 13th. 40 weeks in the poll is a program record for consecutive weeks as a ranked team, surpassing the longest previous stretch in program history from 2006-2008.
- The Chargers are making their 13th NCAA DII Tournament appearance in program history and their fourth consecutive appearance this season. All 13 have come under head coach Chris Gravel, who took over the program in 1996. Hillsdale has reached the Midwest Regional final round three times – in 2011, 2012 and 2019, and won the Midwest Regional title in 2011, reaching the Final Four that season. Hillsdale is 11-12 all time in NCAA Tournament play
- Winners of nine of the last 10 Midwest Regional titles are in the 2021 field. Rockhurst leads the way with three titles in that span, Lewis and Grand Valley St. have two each, and Ferris St. and Hillsdale each have one.
- Charger senior Lindsey Mertz achieved something special earlier this season, breaking Hillsdale's career record for assists set by Stephanie Booms from 2004-08. Mertz, who has 5,020 assists for her career, already set the Charger single-season school record for assists with 1,264 in 2019, and is among the national leaders for setters once again, currently ranking seventh in Division II with 11.46 assists per set. Mertz also became the first Charger to make the Midwest Crossover All-Tournament team three times in her career, adding to honors received in 2017 and 2018.
- Defensively, libero Alli Wiese continues to shine after a strong start, earning G-MAC North Division Player of the Week honors for the second straight week and the fourth time this season on Wednesday. A spring 2021 first-team All-G-MAC player, Wiese is second in the G-MAC and is 28th in Division II in digs per set with 5.35. Her 535 digs in the season so far are already in the top 10 all-time for a single season at Hillsdale with at least three matches remaining in the year. She's also a strong server and currently sits sixth in the G-MAC with 0.36 aces per set, and 36 total on the season.
- Senior middle hitter Allyssa Van Wienen is among the national leaders in blocks per set, currently sitting in the top 50 in Division II with 1.07 blocks per set and 13th in total solo blocks with 30. Both an All-American (in 2019) and an Academic All-American (in spring 2021), Van Wienen continues to climb the career statistical ranks at Hillsdale, sitting third all-time in program history in kills (1,404) after passing former All-American Taryn Rudland last weekend, and also fifth among Chargers all-time in total blocks, with 413. She's the only player in program history to
- Junior outside hitter Karoline Shelton became just the second player in Hillsdale history to surpass both 1,000 digs and 1,000 kills in her career in the G-MAC Tournament semifinal on Friday, Nov. 19, joining Cassandra Cole. The Shawnee, Kansas native had a break-out campaign in the spring 2021 season, earning G-MAC Player of the Year honors and leading the Chargers in kills, and was named to the All-G-MAC First Team this season as well. Her 349 kills this season are a personal best and eighth all-time for a single season mark in school history with the NCAA Tournament still to play.