Sharp serving and an efficient performance at the net helped host Hillsdale College overpower visiting Malone in a 25-16, 25-15, 25-12 sweep on Friday night.
Hillsdale rolled in all three sets, breaking open a 16-15 edge in set one with a 9-1 run to pull away from the Pioneers for a victory, led by three kills each from senior Megan Kolp and junior Marilyn Popplewell in the run. The Chargers also overcame a very early deficit in set two with 8-1 run trailing 5-3 to seize control, and never trailed past the first point in set three to close out a dominant victory.
Strong serving was a major separator for the Chargers in the victory, as Hillsdale served up 10 aces to just four service errors, easily outpacing Malone's one ace and six service errors. Alli Wiese led the Chargers with four aces and Maizie Brown chipped in three for Hillsdale.
The Chargers also were lethal on the attack, hitting .358 with 38 kills. Brown led the Chargers with seven kills on .700 hitting and also was dominant at the net defensively, with three solo blocks and three block assists, while Popplewell also finish with seven kills and hit .545 as well.
Megan Kolp and Emory Braswell each added six kills for the Chargers, who played every player who dressed in the victory, and had 12 different players record a kill on the night.
Wiese led the Chargers defensively with nine digs, and Amanda Hilliker chipped in five. Setter Lauren Passaglia had a solid night with 21 assists, six digs, two kills and two block assists, and backup setter Josie TeSlaa added seven assists as well.
Hillsdale is now 21-5 overall and 13-2 in the G-MAC with four matches remaining in conference play. The Chargers are still chasing undefeated Walsh in the G-MAC North Division, but will get another shot at the Cavaliers tomorrow, Saturday, at home with a chance to close the gap on Walsh and make things interesting in the G-MAC standings entering the final week of play. The match starts at 1 p.m. and might be the most important match in terms of effects on the G-MAC standings remaining in 2023. It's also senior day for the Chargers, as Hillsdale looks to honor its three graduating seniors, Audrey Riley, Megan Kolp, and Alli Wiese, for their final home match in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.
Photo by Reva Ludwig