Box Score Box score
As early-season matches go, this was a big one.
The Charger volleyball team won at Ashland University for the first time since Oct. 20, 2012, a 3-1 decision over the Eagles at the Kates Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. It is Hillsdale's sixth win in a row and improves the team to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC. Hillsdale and Tiffin are tied for first place in the GLIAC South Division.
Hillsdale got off to a strong start in the match with a 25-19 win in the first set. Ashland struck back with a dominating 25-15 win in set two. The Chargers were able to make the most of the Eagles' errors in set three, winning 25-17. The fourth set featured a furious comeback by Hillsdale, who turned a 21-16 deficit into a 25-23 win, after freshman Paige VanderWall put down her 14th kill of the match.
Neither offense was very effective, as both teams hit below .200 for the match, but the Chargers ran their offense well when they needed to, hitting .316 in the fourth and decisive set. Freshman setter Taylor Bennett led the team in assists for the first time in her career, getting 18.
VanderWall's 14 kills are her second-most in a match, and were a team-high against the Eagles.
Senior Emily Wolfert moved into 10th place on Hillsdale's all-time kills list, and played a terrific all-around match for the Chargers. She logged 10 kills, 9 digs and 7 total blocks, flirting with a triple-double. Wolfert's 9 digs are an extremely high number for a middle hitter.
Freshman Kara Vyletel added 8 kills with 11 digs and 3 assists, while senior Jenalle Beaman led the back line with 22 digs and 3 assists.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: The team stats were remarkably even in this match, but the most basic offensive stats – kills and errors – were a difference; The Chargers had 4 more kills and 2 fewer errors in the match, a crucial difference in such a closely played match…Wolfert now has 921 kills in her career. She needs 3 to climb into 8th place on the school's career top-10 list…The Chargers went on a 9-2 run to close out the win in set four…This is the fourth time in the past 10 seasons Hillsdale has started at least 8-1 through nine matches (2006, 2010, 2011).
UP NEXT: The Chargers stay on the road next weekend, facing Northwood Friday night and Lake Superior State Saturday afternoon.
PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Vyletel
