Excellence doesn't happen by accident for the Hillsdale College women's volleyball team.
The players who started Hillsdale's current run of G-MAC and NCAA Tournament excellence in 2017 graduated long ago, but that run is still going strong thanks to more recent classes of Chargers greats who have picked up the torch and continued to excel.
As Hillsdale transitions its focus from the 2023 season into the 2024 campaign, the Chargers also bring in a new class of five talented and decorated freshmen who will look to extend Hillsdale's accomplishments for another four years in Hannah Baker (Clayton, MI/Lenawee Christian), Ella Byrum (Kokomo, IN/Northwestern), Ellie Fles (Byron Center, MI/Grand Rapids South Christian), Caroline Lanicek (Tiffin, OH/Calvert) and Jenna Southland (Three Rivers, MI/Three Rivers).
Baker is Hillsdale's first local prospect since Maddie Clark of Pittsford in 2016, coming from nearby Adrian Lenawee Christian less than 35 miles east of the Hillsdale College campus. A three-time All-State honoree and two-time first team All-State honoree, Baker led the perennial small-school powerhouse Cougars to their first MHSAA Division 4 semifinal appearance since 2006 as a senior and the team's top outside hitter this past season, along with three straight district and regional titles. Baker finished her career at Lenawee Christian with over 1,000 kills over 800 digs, over 200 blocks and over 125 aces, and will come to Hillsdale with significant experience playing six-rotation volleyball and excelling in both the front and back rows.
Baker played club volleyball with Team Pineapple and is an excellent student, making three Academic All-State teams and serving as her school's class president all four years, as well as the student council president as a senior.
Byrum is a standout defensive specialist from Northwest Indiana who will look to continue a proud tradition of standout backrow players for the Chargers. As a sophomore at Northwestern High School, Byrum led the Tigers to a program-best 25-2 record and a 2021 IHSAA 3A Sectional title, playing as a setter and leading her team in assists while earning All-Hoosier Conference honors. In her junior and senior year, Byrum focused her attention on playing for the Circle City Volleyball Club, helping her teams qualify for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship three straight years while playing in the back row, staking herself as one of the top defensive specialist prospects in her age group.
An excellent student, Byrum was named to the Executive Council of the Northwestern National Honor Society and also earned membership in the National Spanish Honor Society, while also winning Most Outstanding Student Awards in five different classes at Northwestern.
Fles is a standout front row prospect from Grand Rapids South Christian in west Michigan, who helped the Sailors win back-to-back titles in the competitive OK Gold and reach the MHSAA Division 2 semifinals in 2022, losing to eventual champion North Branch. Fles was a second team All-State honoree as a junior and a two-time All-OK Conference honoree and was working to lead South Christian to more success before an injury cut her senior season short. In just three seasons, Fles finished with 930 kills, 601 digs, 309 aces and 155 blocks, and also excelled in club ball on the Far Out National Team.
A standout in the classroom as well for Hillsdale, Fles will graduate with honors from South Christian and was a member of the student council as a junior and senior.
Lanicek is an exciting middle hitter prospect who projects as an offensive and defensive weapon for a Chargers team that often plays through the middle. Playing for small-school powerhouse Tiffin Calvert in the state of Ohio, Lanicek was a starter on the Senecas' 2020 OHSAA Division 4 state championship team in 2020 and capped her career as a senior by leading Calvert back to the state final and earning runner-up honors in 2023. A two-time All-State and four-time All-Conference and All-District selection who made the OHSAA All-Star team across all divisions in 2023, Lanicek finished her career with 1,057 kills and 321 total blocks.
Also a standout on the club scene, Lanicek helped lead Blackswamp Volleyball Club to the 2022 USVA Junior Nationals Gold bracket final, earning runner-up honors in that event as well. An excellent student, Lanicek was a 5x Academic All-State honoree and a member of both student council and the National Honor Society at Calvert, while also serving a a group leader for her Catholic youth group.
Southland is another strong middle hitter prospect with impact potential after helping elevate Three Rivers to new heights as a three-year varsity starter. A three time All-State, All-Region and first-team All-Conference player, Southland was named the AVCA National Player of the Week in 2023 and set school records for kills in a career (1,490) and single season (671) after leading the Wildcats to a 2021 MHSAA D2 district title and a 2023 Wolverine Conference Co-Championship. A standout player on the club scene for Far Out, Southland also finished her career with 525 digs, 300 blocks and 134 aces.
An impressive student, Southland was named a 2023 1st Team AVCA Academic All-American and is a multi-time Academic All-State honoree who also has earned membership in the Three Rivers chapter of the National Honor Society.
Photos are courtesy of the athletes. From left -- Baker, Byrum, Fles, Lanicek and Southland