The 18th-ranked Hillsdale College volleyball team got a tough challenge from visiting Walsh on Saturday but took care of business to improve to 2-0 overall in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play.

The Chargers dominated the first set, reeling off nine straight points to turn a 4-1 deficit into a 10-4 lead, and never looking back in a 25-14 rout. The Cavaliers refused to go quietly, battling back to take the second set 25-22.

From there, the match was back-and forth the rest of the way, with a combined 32 ties and 11 lead changes in the final two sets. Hillsdale was slightly more efficient both offensively and defensively, beating the Cavaliers in side-out percentage in both sets, to eke them out, 25-21 and 26-24, and clinch the victory.

Junior Karoline Shelton had a huge match for the Chargers, with 17 kills on a .341 hitting percentage, three total blocks and a career-high 24 digs to help Hillsdale get over the hump against the Cavaliers, who were picked to finish runner-up to the Chargers in the G-MAC North Division in the preseason, and Allyssa Van Wienen chipped in 13 kills and five total blocks as well.

The Chargers also got a critical offensive contribution off the bench from freshman Amy Buffini, who only played in the final two sets but contributed seven critical kills to help Hillsdale take the match. Maddie Clark added six kills as well for the Chargers.

Defensively, libero Alli Wiese finished with 28 digs to lead Hillsdale, and Madie Schider chipped in 13 and Audrey Riley added 11. Lindsey Mertz had another strong match as the setter for the Chargers, finishing with 42 assists, nine digs and two total blocks. 

Hillsdale (8-2, 2-0 G-MAC) is tied with Findlay atop the G-MAC North Division after the first week of conference play, and one of only five 2-0 teams across the G-MAC. The Chargers now face a big road week as Hillsdale makes the long trip to Kentucky and Tennessee next Friday and Saturday. Hillsdale first faces Kentucky Wesleyan at 8 p.m. on Friday, before taking on G-MAC South Division co-leader Trevecca Nazarene at 1 p.m. on Saturday in a match with big conference title race implications to close out the weekend.

Photo by Anthony Lupi '22