The Hillsdale College women's volleyball team moved one step closer to its goal of a fifth-straight G-MAC title last weekend, and record-setting setter Lindsey Mertz had a big role to play.
Mertz stood out across three matches as Hillsdale picked up two big conference wins on Friday and Saturday over Malone and Walsh to clinch a share of the G-MAC North Division title, and the conference office recognized her play by naming her G-MAC North Division Offensive Player of the Week. It's the second time this season Mertz has earned G-MAC Player of the Week honors, and combined with freshman libero Alli Wiese's Defensive Player of the Week honor, gives the Chargers a clean sweep of the weekly awards for the first time this year.
The senior from Frankenmuth put up 77 assists in just seven sets played, averaging 11 assists per set in three matches. Mertz had her best outing in a tight three-set loss to one of the top teams in the Midwest Region, Ferris State, on Tuesday, tallying 38 assists, but she also added 28 more in her team's dominant Saturday sweep of host Walsh. That victory over the Cavaliers guaranteed the Chargers a share of the G-MAC North Division title and left them one win away from securing the outright crown and the top seed for the upcoming G-MAC Tournament with three matches left to play.
Mertz has already set the Hillsdale career record in assists earlier this month, breaking the old record set by Stephanie Booms from 2005-08 of 4,640, and has 4,820 assists entering this week. She leads the G-MAC in assists per set and is currently among the national leaders in the stat, sitting sixth in NCAA Division II with 11.39 so far.
The senior and the Chargers host Findlay at 7 p.m. on Friday for their lone match this week, looking to wrap up the G-MAC North Division crown.
Photo by Anthony Lupi '22