Schedule (Full Tourney Schedule here)
Ferris State (0-4, 0-0 GLIAC) at #22 Hillsdale (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
RV Missouri S&T (4-0, 0-0 GLVC) at #22 Hillsdale (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
#17 Gannon (3-0, 0-0 PSAC) at #22 Hillsdale (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
#14 Colorado School of Mines (3-1, 0-0 RMAC) at #22 Hillsdale (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
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Additional Info
Tournament Central | Hillsdale Roster | Ferris St. Roster | Missouri S&T Roster | Gannon Roster | Mines Roster | 2022 Hillsdale Stats | 2022 Ferris St. Stats | 2022 Missouri S&T Stats | 2022 Gannon Stats | 2022 Mines Stats
Players to Watch
Hillsdale: #7 Karoline Shelton, Sr., OH, Shawnee, KS/Mission South (2021 AVCA 3rd Tm All-American, Spring 2021 G-MAC POY, 3x 1st team All-G-MAC); #4 Alli Wiese, So., L/DS, Mattawan, MI/Mattawan (2x All-G-MAC, 4th G-MAC in D/S); #8 Maizie Brown, So., MH, Portage, MI/Central (2x All-G-MAC, 1st G-MAC in B/S); #13 Marilyn Popplewell, So., OH, Mason, OH/Mason (2nd team in K/S)
Ferris St.: #4 Claire Nowicki, So., OH, Clarkston, MI/Clarkston (5th team in K/S, D/S in 2021); #5 Olivia Henneman-Dallape, So., MH, Oregon, OH/Clay (4th team in K/S, B/S in 2021); #8 Chelsie Freeman, Jr., MH, Amarillo, TX/Amarillo/Angelo St. (Transfer from DII power Angelo State); #12 Kaylee Maat, So., S, Hudsonville, MI/Hudsonville (1st team in A/S, SA/S, 3rd in D/S in 2021)
Missouri S&T: #4 Jordan Burton, Jr., OH, Olathe, KS/South (2021 2nd Team All-GLVC); #3 Madelyn Mason, Jr., RS, Mount Horeb, WI/Mount Horeb (9th GLVC in K/S, 4th in hitting %); #15 Lexi Netherlain, Sr., L, Sullivan, IN/Sullivan (9th GLVC in D/S, 5th in SA/S); #16 Madison Offerman, So., MH, Herscher, IL/Herscher (1st GLVC in B/S)
Gannon: #1 Maggie Greenfield, Sr., MB, Woodstock, ON/Collegiate Institute (2021 AVCA All-Region, 2nd Team All-PSAC West, 1st PSAC in hitting %, 10th in K/S); #2 Sam Deinek, So., OH, South Lyon, MI/East (1st PSAC in K/S, P/S); #6 Emma Hall, So., L, Lowell, MI/Lowell (1st PSAC in D/S); #10 Bengisu Arslan, Fr., S, Ankara, Turkey (1st PSAC in A/S)
Colorado School of Mines: #6 Elle Duis, Sr, DS/L, Trophy Club, TX/Byron Nelson (2021 2nd Team AVCA All-Region, 1st Team All-RMAC); #7 Rose Stuewe, Sr., OH, Fredricksburg, TX/Fredricksburg (2021 2nd Team All-RMAC); #16 Shannon Perna, Jr., OPP, Binghamton, NY/Binghamton (3rd RMAC in K/S, 2nd in hitting %, 2nd in SA/S); #18 Drew Stokes, Sr., S, Murphysboro, IL/Murphysboro (2021 2nd Team AVCA All-American, RMAC Setter of the Year, 1st RMAC in A/S)
Scouting the Opposition
The Hillsdale College volleyball team faces arguably its stiffest tests of the regular season this weekend, as three ranked teams and another undefeated squad come to town for the Hillsdale College "Net Results" Invitational this weekend.
The Chargers kick things off on Thursday night with a huge match against Ferris State. The last time the two squads met was in the 2021 NCAA Midwest Regional Final, when Hillsdale beat the Bulldogs in four sets on their home court to earn an Elite Eight berth.
Both teams lost several key players from last year's matchup, and the new-look Bulldogs lineup showed growing pains in its opening weekend, going 0-4, albeit against tough competition out in Washington.
Despite the slow start, Ferris State is still a very dangerous team, stacked with talent. Sophomore Kaylee Maat returns as the starting setter and is one of the best in the region, and she has returning weapons in sophomore outside hitter Claire Nowicki and middle hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape, both of whom excelled in supporting roles in 2021.
The addition of transfers Jessica Angelo from West Florida and Chelsie Freeman from Angelo State, both NCAA DII volleyball powerhouses, should make Ferris State a formidable squad once again as soon as the new roster has had time to jell.
Hillsdale opens up on Friday with a match against Missouri S&T. On paper the Miners are the least decorated team in the invitational after missing the NCAA Tournament last season and losing star Payton Gannaway, but appearances can be deceiving.
Missouri S&T went 4-0 in its opening weekend invite in St. Louis, sweeping all four opponents and showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the Midwest Region this season. The Miners have a balanced offense, with four players currently averaging over 2.75 kills per set, including 2021 second-team All-GLVC honorees Jordan Burton and Shelby Ply.
Returning libero Lexi Netherlain and imposing middle blocker Madison Offerman give the Miners a strong defense to back up its offensive attack. With four ranked opponents this weekend, Missouri S&T has a golden opportunity to prove it belongs in the conversation.
The Chargers close out Friday with another huge rematch against #17 Gannon, the team that ended Hillsdale's season in the Elite Eight in 2021.
Gannon suffered heavy graduation losses from last year's Final Four squad, but if the opening weekend is any indication, the Golden Knights have reloaded just fine. In three matches, Gannon steamrolled the opposition, with a balanced offensive attack led by senior Maggie Greenfield and backed by rising stars Sam Deinek and Maddie Blake.
Libero Emma Hall is a strong defensive presence for the Golden Knights, and freshman setter Bengisu Arslan had an impressive debut performance for Gannon over the weekend, directing a lethal Golden Knights attack without missing a beat.
Keeping the same level of play against tougher competition this weekend could vault Gannon back into the short list of national title contenders.
Hillsdale closes out the tournament on Saturday, saving arguably the toughest opponent for last. #14 Colorado School of Mines is one of the top teams annually in the rugged South Central region and returns several key players hungry for redemption after an upset loss ended their 2021 NCAA tourney run in the opening round.
Leading the way is senior setter Drew Stokes, the three-time RMAC Setter of the Year and one of the top returning players in the country. The veteran setter has a variety of dangerous weapons to work with, led by junior Shannon Perna, who posted excellent numbers in helping Mines to a 3-1 record at their home invitational last weekend.
Mines also returns a strong, experienced libero in Elle Duis and will look for a strong weekend against ranked competition to help propel them to another successful run in the RMAC after winning the conference tournament title in 2021.
Scouting the Chargers
Fresh off one of the best seasons in program history, including the program's second-ever NCAA DII Midwest Regional championship and Elite Eight appearance, Hillsdale looks to keep a run of recent success going in 2022.
The Chargers will have to overcome significant graduation losses to do so, as Hillsdale bid farewell last spring to a talented five-player senior class that included two All-Americans, two more All-G-MAC players and a player who finished in the top 10 all time in career digs at Hillsdale.
Despite the losses, however, Hillsdale is still well-stocked with talent, as well as meaningful experience at multiple positions. A third 2021 All-American, senior outside hitter Karoline Shelton, returns for the final season of a stellar five-year career, and is joined by two-time All-G-MAC libero Alli Wiese, who set the Hillsdale single-season record for digs last year, as well as two-time All-G-MAC middle hitter Maizie Brown.
The Chargers have plenty of options in the front row, led by sophomore outside hitter Marilyn Popplewell, who was the breakout star of Hillsdale's NCAA Tournament run as a freshman after barely playing in the first half of the season, as well as senior middle hitter Megan Kolp, who's played an important role on multiple Charger squads.
In the back row, Hillsdale can call on rock-solid veteran Audrey Riley, who's been part of the rotation since arriving as a freshman, and athletic sophomore Amy Buffini, who impressed with her defensive skills in limited playing time last year and who brings added flexibility to the lineup with her ability to play in the front row as well.
The biggest question mark for Hillsdale is at setter, where the Chargers will have to replace five-year starter Lindsey Mertz, the program's assists record-holder. Luckily, Hillsdale has several talented options to choose from. Senior Madeline Zenas played at an All-G-MAC level when subbing in for an injured Mertz during the spring 2021 season, while sophomore Lauren Passaglia showed promise in limited opportunities last year and will contend for the spot. Freshman Josie TeSlaa had a strong high school career and also is very much in the mix.
Coaching the Chargers for the 27th 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 wonnine conference regular season titles, eught conference tournament titles, made 13 NCAA Division II tournament appearances, won the Midwest Regional title in 2011 and 2021, and reached the NCAA DII Final Four in 2011 while making the Elite Eight round in 2021.
Other Notes
- Hillsdale was ranked 22nd in this week's AVCA DII Preseason top 25, after entering the season ranked 16th in the nation. Hillsdale has now made the AVCA DII Top 25 for 43 consecutive polls, continuing to extend a program record. The Chargers also were the top vote-getter in the 2022 G-MAC Preseason Coaches poll, and named the favorite to win the North Division.
- The Chargers enter the 2022 season looking to extend its dominance of the G-MAC for another campaign. Hillsdale has won five consecutive regular season titles and five G-MAC tournament titles in a row since joining the conference in 2017, and are currently on a 71-match winning streak in conference games (85 including conference tournament matches). Hillsdale's last loss in G-MAC play came in a four-set defeat at the hands of Cedarville on Sept. 15, 2017, during the program's first week as a G-MAC member.
- Senior outside hitter Karoline Shelton was named the G-MAC North Division Offensive Player of the Week on Monday and is building a resume as one of the most accomplished all-around players in program history. The 2021 All-American is one of just two players in program history, along with Cassandra Cole (1996-99), to surpass both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for her career. At 1,143 kills and 1,257 digs through this past weekend, an injury-free campaign should see Shelton move into the top five all-time at Hillsdale in both stats.
- Sophomore libero Alli Wiese reached an important career milestone early, becoming the 12th Charger to surpass 1,000 digs this past weekend. She now sits at 1,014 digs for her career, and earned both G-MAC North Division Defensive Player of the Week honors and a spot on the Rockhurst Invitational All-Tournament team. Wiese, who set a program record for single-season digs with 624 last fall and is averaging 5.34 digs per set for her career, has a great shot at chasing down the program's career digs record of 2,251 held by her older sister, Taylor, if she can stay healthy the next three seasons.
- Hillsdale currently leads the G-MAC in blocks per set with 2.88 through the first weekend, and is fifth nationally in the statistic – a testament to the Chargers' strength up front. Leading the way is sophomore Maizie Brown, who had 26 total blocks at the Rockhurst Invite last weekend, and whose 1.86 blocks per set rank second in the entire nation at the NCAA DII level. Brown is a two-time All-G-MAC player who's stepping into a bigger role in her third season with the Chargers, and will be one to watch throughout the season.
- Family ties play an interesting role for the Hillsdale College volleyball team this year, with several players following in the footsteps of family members who played Charger athletics. Three of Hillsdale's five incoming freshmen have older siblings who are or were Chargers – libero Chloe Pierce's older sister, Sophia, just wrapped up her career as a women's basketball player at Hillsdale, front row player Adi Sysum is the younger sister of women's basketball player Arianna Sysum, and setter Josie TeSlaa is the younger sister of Charger football player Isaac TeSlaa. They join Alli Wiese, whose older sister, Taylor, also was a libero for the Chargers and is currently on the coaching staff.
- Familiar faces are all over head coach Chris Gravel's coaching staff. As mentioned above, assistant Taylor Wiese was an All-American libero for the Chargers from 2016-19. She's joined this year as an assistant by Allyssa Van Wienen, who just wrapped up her Charger career last fall and finished as a two-time All-American.