The Hillsdale College volleyball team completed a critical road trip with its best victory of the season to date on Saturday, rolling past host Thomas More in a 25-18, 25-16, 25-23 victory for the Chargers' third straight win.
Hillsdale handed Thomas More its first G-MAC loss of the season while going above .500 in conference play for the first time in 2025, in a victory that caps a road trip that included a five-set victory over Northwood last week and a sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan the previous night.
The Chargers came out focused and hungry in what could have been a difficult match, hitting an impressive .264 in one of their best offensive performances of the season against the Saints. Hillsdale used its variety of offensive weapons to keep Thomas More off-balance, feeding a different player every time the Saints tried to adjust and finishing with five players with seven or more kills in the match.
Hillsdale benefited in a big way from the healthy return of
Ellie Fles, who hasn't appeared in a match since the Chargers' season-opening win over Anderson (SC). Back in the lineup, Fles put up an impressive double-double, leading Hillsdale with 11 kills and adding 10 digs.
The Chargers controlled each of the first two sets, riding a big early lead in set one and then steadily pulling away in set two after a competitive start. Set three was a hard fight, as Thomas More jumped out to a 5-1 lead early and continued to battle even after Hillsdale fought back to even in the set. Thomas More had a 23-22 lead late looking to extend the match, but Hillsdale put down three straight kills from
Adi Sysum,
Caroline Lanicek and Fles to secure the victory.
Sysum and Lanicek also played big roles in the victory for the Chargers, each finishing with nine kills and two blocks,
Emory Braswell added eight kills, and
Jenna Southland chipped in seven.
Ella Byrum finished with nine digs and two service aces for the Chargers defense, and
Josie TeSlaa and
Grace Drake split setting duties for the Chargers, with TeSlaa finishing with 17 assists and Drake 14.
Now 5-6 overall, 3-2 in G-MAC play, Hillsdale returns home with momentum this coming Friday for a huge showdown with G-MAC North Division leader and title favorite Findlay at 7 p.m. in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. The Chargers will be heavy underdogs to the Oilers, who are ranked 21st in the nation in the most recent AVCA poll, but could move just a game back of Findlay in the standings if Hillsdale pulls the upset.
