As her Hillsdale College career winds down, senior libero Alli Wiese is still going strong, looking to help the Chargers go out on top. Her play in the final week of the regular season for the Hillsdale College volleyball team puts proof to that fact, and the G-MAC is taking notice as well.
On Monday, the G-MAC recognized Wiese as the G-MAC North Division Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, and the 13th in her illustrious career. Alli helped lead the Chargers to a 2-1 weekend that clinched not only a share of the G-MAC North Division title for the seventh straight year, but also the top seed in the upcoming G-MAC Tournament this weekend.
The senior from Mattawan Michigan finished with 6.09 digs per set across the three matches and put up 20 or more digs in all three contests, including 22 and 25 in just three sets in sweeps over Malone and Tiffin on Thursday and Friday, elite numbers for a college libero. Wiese also had a record-setting moment in Saturday's regular season finale against Findlay, racking up her 58th service ace of the year to break the Hillsdale College single season record of 57 set by Apryl Schmucker in 2011. It's another record for Wiese, who already set the Chargers' and the G-MAC single-season digs record with 721 last season in 2022.
Wiese is also closing in on another milestone, with 2,188 digs in her career. She needs 64 to break the Chargers' career record of 2,251 set by her older sister Taylor in 2019, and could do so in the G-MAC Tournament this week with a strong team run in the event and productive individual play.
The Chargers open up their postseason run with a home G-MAC quarterfinal match tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Cedarville. A victory would mean the Chargers will host the semifinals and finals this coming Friday and Saturday. Hillsdale has won the last six G-MAC Tournament titles and are looking to claim a seventh and the autobid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with the title.
Photo by Reva Ludwig