In a showdown between two of four remaining G-MAC unbeatens entering the day, the Hillsdale College volleyball team saw off in-state rival Northwood in emphatic fashion on Saturday at home, pulling out a marathon first set 33-31, then rolling past the Timberwolves 25-12, 25-19 in the next two sets to complete the sweep.
Hillsdale had control of the first set for most of it, leading Northwood 22-17 and 23-20 at various points, but a furious rally by the Timberwolves allowed Northwood to tie the set at 23-all. What followed was a frenetic and thrilling back-and-forth by the two teams, with extended rallies and fierce competition to try and claim the set. Hillsdale fought off a set point at 25-24 on a kill by senior
Marilyn Popplewell, while Northwood fought off six set points to stay alive. A huge block by the Timberwolves to take a 31-30 lead looked like it could be a turning point, but Hillsdale calmly responded with a kill from
Maizie Brown to tie the match back up, then Brown teamed with
Lauren Passaglia on a block to help the Chargers retake a 32-31 lead.
Passaglia finished off Hillsdale's seventh opportunity at a set point with a kill, her sixth in an impressive showing in the first set, to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead in the match and momentum.
Hillsdale took full advantage of the energy from that thrilling set victory, dominating set two with a lights-out hitting performance that saw the Chargers put down 19 kills on a .485 hitting percentage and never let Northwood into the set. With a chance to close out a critical victory, Hillsdale was locked in for set three as well, jumping out to an early 12-4 lead and never looking back. Facing elimination, Northwood made a push to get back in the set late, closing to within four points at 23-19, but never seriously threatening the Chargers as Hillsdale completed the sweep.
The victory over a Timberwolves team that entered the day 10-1 overall and 2-0 in G-MAC play came about thanks to explosive and balanced hitting for the Chargers. Passaglia led the way with 11 kills on .474 hitting, part of an all-around great performance that included 17 assists, three block assists and six digs. Popplewell also added 11 kills and seven digs, and four additional players finished with four or more kills, including freshman
Ellie Fles with seven kills, and middle hitters Brown and
Adi Sysum with six kills each. Brown chipped in five block assists and six digs as well for the Chargers.
Amanda Hilliker led Hillsdale defensively with 13 digs, and
Chloe Pierce chipped in eight.
Josie TeSlaa topped the Chargers in assists with 21 and chipped in six digs as well.
Hillsdale is now 8-1 overall, 3-0 in G-MAC play and hosts the G-MAC's two Kentucky schools next weekend, beginning with a match against Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday at 7 p.m.
Photo by Sarah Chappelle
