The Hillsdale College volleyball team enters conference play this coming weekend with momentum after an undefeated run through its home invitational this weekend, including two big wins on Saturday over Florida Southern and Purdue Northwest.

The Chargers opened Saturday with a sweep of the Moccasins, who entered the weekend receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll and went 2-0 on Friday ahead of Saturday's match. Coached by Hillsdale alum Ashlee Crowder, arguably the best volleyball player in Chargers history, Florida Southern put up a strong fight, pushing Hillsdale in the first set before the Chargers pulled out a 26-24 victory. Another tight second set saw Hillsdale pull away with two late points to close out the match, with Marilyn Popplewell providing the winning kill.

Energized by the chance to sweep, Hillsdale dominated the third set, breaking a 5-all tie with five straight points including two kills by sophomore Greta Wise to take a lead it would never relinquish in a 25-17 romp. 

Hillsdale won at the point of attack, outhitting Florida Southern .294 to .213 and putting up 10 more kills with a balanced attack. The Chargers also held a big edge at the service line, with 11 aces to Florida Southern's 6 to pull away. Popplewell was a key piece for the Chargers in the victory with 11 kills, five aces and five digs, while senior Lauren Passaglia was close behind with nine kills on .421 hitting, two aces and 19 assists. Greta Wise added nine kills as well for Hillsdale, and Adi Sysum chipped in six kills and two total blocks.

Amanda Hilliker led the Chargers defensively against Florida Southern with 15 digs and two aces, and Josie TeSlaa chipped in six digs, two service aces and a team-high 22 assists as well.

Hillsdale closed out the undefeated weekend with a four-set win over Purdue Northwest, rallying from a 22-25 first-set loss to dominate the final three sets, 25-11, 25-15, 25-14.

The Chargers were unstoppable at the net in the final three sets, putting up 30 kills to just six attack errors and recording 12 kills with no hitting mistakes in the fourth and deciding set. Hillsdale was just as dominant defensively at the net, overpowering the Pride with 16.5 total blocks across four sets.

Popplewell was once again elite for Hillsdale, with 13 kills, 13 digs, five service aces and five block assists to lead or tie for the lead for Hillsdale in three different categories. Passaglia had a great night as well, with nine kills, seven digs, five total blocks, two aces and 15 assists, and Greta Wise chipped in six kills as well. 

Hilliker led the Chargers defensively with 14 digs, and TeSlaa chipped in two kills, four service aces, six digs and a team-high 16 assists as well for Hillsdale. Freshman Jenna Southland added six total blocks as well for Hillsdale, and Chloe Pierce chipped in eight digs and two aces.

Hillsdale is now 5-1 overall with non-conference play wrapping up, and will begin its quest for a seventh G-MAC regular season title in eight seasons next Saturday, with a trip to Ohio Dominican for a 6 p.m. match. The G-MAC opener will be a rematch of last season's G-MAC Tournament title match, which Hillsdale took in five sets to win its seventh straight G-MAC Tournament title as well.