Senior leadership keyed the Hillsdale College volleyball team in its season opener on Friday, as the Chargers swept past New Haven 3-0 in the first of three matches for Hillsdale in the Tampa Classic.

With both Hillsdale and New Haven sharing the "Chargers" nickname, Friday's match was a battle to set an early tone for two programs that reached the NCAA Tournament last year. New Haven proved to be a worthy foe, pushing Hillsdale in all three sets, but the Michigan-based Chargers overcame the Connecticut-based Chargers with consistent strong play at the net. Hillsdale hit .224 with 37 kills to New Haven's .075 hitting percentage and 29 kills, and out-blocked New Haven at the net 7-4. That attacking efficiency helped Hillsdale overcome an uncharacteristic 11 service errors and proved to be too much for New Haven to contend with.

Although every set was close at points, Hillsdale seized control down the stretch in all three to take the victory, showing poise and veteran savvy to get over the top. In set one, Hillsdale turned a close 17-16 score into a decisive 22-17 edge thanks to a timely block by Lauren Passaglia and Adi Sysum, and a kill and ace from the senior Passaglia as well in a 25-21 victory.

New Haven hit back hard in set two, looking to even up the match. Hillsdale's opponents held a 23-20 lead late in the set with a chance to close out, but Hillsdale seized control with six of the final seven points, including four kills in six points from senior Marilyn Popplewell to get over the top.

With a chance to finish the match, Hillsdale didn't hesitate in the third set. Up 11-10, Hillsdale reeled off three straight points, including an ace by senior Maizie Brown, to create separation, then kept New Haven at arm's length the rest of the set to take the match. 

A returning All-American, Popplewell looked the part in her first match of the 2024 season, leading all players with 18 kills and 18 digs while hitting a red-hot .469 in a performance that bodes well for the senior as her final campaign gets underway. Brown, a fellow senior, was an equal force at the net, with six kills on .500 hitting as well as two solo blocks, three block assists and five aces. 

Hillsdale's third starting senior, Passaglia, flashed her versatility with four kills, 11 digs and a team-high 21 assists, while freshman Caroline Lanicek added three kills in her first collegiate match as well. Amanda Hilliker added 11 digs and Josie TeSlaa eight as well for Hillsdale (1-0) who will play twice tomorrow, with matches against a solid Texas Woman's University team at 1:15 p.m., and a showdown match with the second-ranked team in the nation in host Tampa at 7:30 p.m. as well.

Photo by Patrick Clark