Box Score Box score
The Hillsdale College volleyball team might be tired of buses and hotels, but it certainly isn't tired of the results of all these road matches.
Playing away from home for the fourth consecutive weekend, the Chargers ran their winning streak to seven with a dramatic 3-2 win over Northwood University Friday night in Midland. Hillsdale is now 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC.
The first two sets were decided by the minimum points possible, with the Timberwolves grabbing the match's early lead, 25-23 in the opening set. Two Timberwolf errors after the score was 24-24 enabled the Chargers to tie the match up with a 26-24 win in the second set.
Northwood ran its offense in impressive fashion in set three, winning 25-20, leading from start to finish. But in set four, Hillsdale grabbed the momentum right back, taking advantage of Northwood errors en route to a 25-16 win, sending the match to a fifth set.
In that fifth set, the Timberwolves jumped out to a 7-4 lead, and led as late as 9-8, after the two teams switched sides. But from there, Hillsdale ended the match on a 7-2 run, scoring the last five points in a row.
The rally started with freshman Paige VanderWall hit her 11th kill of the night, tying the set at 11. Senior Haylee Booms, who was simply spectacular in this match, followed that up with a kill to give the Chargers their first lead of the set. VanderWall's team-high 12th kill pushed the lead to 13-11.
Booms and junior Erin Holsinger handled the business from there, teaming up on back-to-back blocks to end a splendid match. Hillsdale hit .471 (8 kills, 0 errors) in set five, compared to .182 (9 kills, 5 errors) for Northwood.
Booms had 11 kills, 0 errors, a .500 hitting percentage and 6 total blocks (2 solo), none bigger than the last two. Freshman Kara Vyletel continues an extraordinary start to a career, matching Booms' 11 kills while committing just one hitting error for a .345 hitting percentage, and 12 digs.
Senior Emily Wolfert was just as effective, with 11 kills, one error, a .385 hitting percentage and 3 total blocks. Holsinger also had an error-less match, with 6 kills and 5 total blocks.
Senior Marissa Owen set a season-high with 34 assists to go along with 8 digs. Senior Jenalle Beaman led the team with 15 digs.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: Hillsdale had played eight straight four-set matches until Friday's five-setter with Northwood…Even though the Chargers had a team-season high 57 kills in the match, Northwood was plus-18 in kills…However, the Timberwolves committed 26 hitting errors compared to Hillsdale's 11…Northwood was also -15 in serving points (aces compared to serving errors and serve reception errors)…This was Hillsdale's first 3-2 win over Northwood since Nov. 7, 2009.
UP NEXT: The Chargers head further north to face Lake Superior State University at 2:00 Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie.
PHOTO CREDIT: Greg Vyletel
