Box Score

The Charger volleyball team makes a habit out of practicing in clutch situations on a daily basis. That practice came through in the form of its second five-set win of the weekend Saturday afternoon.

Hillsdale trailed, then led, then let a lead slip away, and ultimately, put away a pesky Walsh University squad 3-2 in North Canton, Ohio. The Chargers, winners of five straight, are now 12-2 overall and 5-1 in the GLIAC.

Walsh took the first set 25-22, only to see the Chargers claim set 2 by the same score. Hillsdale displayed more consistency in set 3 with a2 5-18 win, only to see the Cavaliers dig deep for a 25-21 win in set 4. Set 5 was all Hillsdale, as the Chargers led from the start in a 15-6 match-clinching win.

The Cavaliers frustrated the Chargers with their stout defensive play, both at the net and by the back line. Walsh outblocked Hillsdale 14-8 and came up with 86 digs as a team, forcing the Chargers to a .138 hitting percentage for the match.

Hillsdale's ability to rise to the moment was shown in the fifth set, when it hit .250 as a team compared to .036 for the Cavaliers. The Chargers scored 9 of their 15 points in the fifth set directly off kills.

But the Chargers had four players with 17 or more digs, led by a career-high 24 from sophomore setter Taylor Bennett, who was outstanding defensively in the match. Bennett added 42 assists to her performance in this hard-fought match.

Sophomore Kara Vyletel carried the offense over long stretches of the match, and set a new career-high with 21 kills. Even though the Walsh defense keyed on her, Vyletel was relentless on the attack, becoming the second different player to notch a 20-kill match this season for Hillsdale. She was spectacular on the other side of the ball as well, setting a career-high with 18 digs.

Sophomore Paige VanderWall put down 12 kills, while junior Jackie Langer added 11 kills and 17 digs. Freshman libero Taylor Wiese continued her strong play with 19 digs in the victory.

PHOTO CREDIT: Carly Gouge

UP NEXT: Hillsdale returns home next weekend to take on the South Division's top two teams, Wayne State Friday and Findlay Saturday.