The Hillsdale College women's volleyball team didn't get the start it wanted in a pivotal road match with the G-MAC North Division lead at stake at Northwood on Saturday.

When it came to finishing time, however, the Chargers dominated when it mattered most to power past the Timberwolves in a 15-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-13 victory and earn a big advantage in the G-MAC North title race.

The Chargers had few answers for a Northwood team that came out on fire and determined to end a long losing streak to Hillsdale. The Timberwolves hit .426, scored six of the first eight points and never came close to trailing again while rolling to a 1-0 advantage.

Facing an opponent firing on all cylinders, Hillsdale battled back in a fiercely contested set two that swung back and forth. The Chargers trailed 23-21 late and in grave danger of going down 2-0 in the match when Hillsdale reeled off four straight points, including two kills by freshman Ellie Fles and a service ace by Marilyn Popplewell, to stun the Timberwolves and force the match back to even.

That clutch finish proved to be all the momentum Hillsdale needed to swing the match in their favor permanently. The Chargers led for most of the third set and held off a late push by Northwood to go up 2-1, sealing the set on a block by Popplewell and Ari Sysum, then thoroughly dominated set four to seal the match in a one-sided 25-13 romp. 

Hillsdale locked in in a big way in the final three sets, finishing with 14 or more kills in all three and just seven total attack errors after committing four in the first set. A balanced attack proved to be the key for the Chargers, as five players finished with six or more kills, led by 12 on .476 hitting from sophomore Greta Wise. Lauren Passaglia turned in a stellar all-around effort again for Hillsdale, tying for the team lead in kills with 12 while also leading Hillsdale in assists with 31 and contributing 11 digs as well.

Popplewell, meanwhile, chipped in 10 kills in an excellent hitting performance and continued to be one of the G-MAC's top weapons at the service line, with four aces. Fles added eight kills for the Chargers and Maizie Brown chipped in six kills, five total blocks and two aces.

Amanda Hilliker continued her strong recent play defensively with 22 digs, Chloe Pierce chipped in nine digs, and Josie TeSlaa added 14 assists, two service aces, and five digs as well.

Hillsdale is now 14-3 overall, 7-1 in the G-MAC with a one-match lead on Findlay and a two-match lead on the Timberwolves in the North Division. The Chargers face a busy and critical homestand over the next two weeks, starting with three matches in a row this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Hillsdale's Friday match is against the only other team in the G-MAC with just one loss, Ashland, in a match with big implications for hosting rights in the season-ending G-MAC Tournament, but first the Chargers must avoid falling for a potential trap match against Ursuline at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Photo by Reva Ludwig