The Hillsdale College volleyball team opened G-MAC play with five straight home victories over the last two weeks.
On Friday, the Chargers proved they could take the show on the road without a hitch, taking down host Lake Erie in straight sets for an 11th straight win and improving to 6-0 in G-MAC play.
Hillsdale served an astounding 18 aces in the match, easily surpassing the 25-point, rally scoring era record of 15 aces set multiple times, and the most since the Chargers had 20 aces in a match against Rochester University in 2001 in the 30-point rally-scoring era. The Chargers also doubled up the host Storm in kills with 32 to Lake Erie's 16, and hit .216 to the Storm's -.013 in a solid performance both offensively and defensively.
The first two sets were tight as Hillsdale had to rally from early deficits in both. But when it came down to the deciding points in the set, Hillsdale brought their best. Tied at 17-17 late in the first set, Hillsdale outscored Lake Erie 8-1 to the finish to win 25-18, led by two service aces and back-to-back kills from sophomore Emory Braswell. It was a similar story in the second set, as Hillsdale trailed 19-14 late with Lake Erie pushing to even up the match until the Chargers went on an 11-1 that included multiple aces from both Audrey Riley and Alli Wiese to take a 25-20 victory.
With a chance at a sweep, Hillsdale was unstoppable in set three, as Riley served four consecutive service aces as part of a 7-0 run that gave Hillsdale an insurmountable 15-5 lead en route to a 25-9 victory.
Riley had a career night at the service line with a collegiate best seven aces, just one shy of the record of eight set by Marilyn Popplewell against Wayne State earlier this season, while junior libero Alli Wiese chipped in five, along with a team-leading 18 digs.
Popplewell led the Chargers at the net, hitting .350 with nine kills and also chipping in 10 digs, while Megan Kolp added five kills as well. Maizie Brown chipped in four kills, two solo blocks and a block assist for the Chargers, who rotated players throughout the match and got several younger players involved.
Lauren Passaglia directed the Chargers' offense with another solid performance, finishing with 23 assists and adding three aces as well.
Hillsdale, now 12-2 overall, travels to Ursuline tomorrow for a 2 p.m. match, the second of three matches in three days, all on the road. The Chargers will be looking to avoid getting caught with their minds on Sunday and a showdown with the only other G-MAC unbeaten, North Division foe Walsh.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan