The Hillsdale College volleyball team was dealt a tough hand for the 2025 season.

The departure of nine players from the 2024 squad, including four of Hillsdale's top five point scorers and the team's top libero and setter, left precious little experience in the lineup for the Chargers.
Injuries exacerbated that lack of experience, with key outside hitter Ellie Fles missing much of the early season and important back row player Ella Byrum also being lost for the year 12 matches in.

Those challenges led to a difficult start for Hillsdale, as the Chargers went 2-4 against tough competition in early season tournaments, and sat at an uncharacteristic 6-10 after the conclusion of the Midwest Regional Crossover.

But all those struggles did pay off as the season wore on. From Oct. 19 on, the Chargers closed the 2025 campaign with an 8-2 record that included two wins over G-MAC East Division champion Walsh and a stunning upset of nationally ranked Findlay, the G-MAC North Division champion, in five sets to close out the regular season.

The Chargers finished the campaign with a 14-12 overall record and reached the G-MAC tournament semifinal for the ninth consecutive season, thanks in part to a 3-0 sweep of Walsh on the Cavaliers' home floor in the quarterfinal. Hillsdale's season came to an end against top-seeded Cedarville in the semis, as the senior-laden Yellow Jackets were too much to overcome on their home floor.

Hillsdale's four-player senior class contributed in a big way to the mid-season turnaround and had a finish to remember for the Chargers. Middle hitter Adi Sysum was twice named G-MAC Player of the Week and finished her career with All-Conference honors, and setter Josie TeSlaa broke into Hillsdale's top 10 all-time for career assists. Chloe Pierce took over as the team's libero after Byrum's injury and had several big matches down the stretch, as did fellow graduating senior Emory Braswell.

That said, Hillsdale's younger players showed the program is in good hands heading into the future despite the departures of the seniors with strong play in the back half of the season.

In 17 matches after returning injury, Fles was an offensive force for the Chargers, as the sophomore led the team in kills per set on the season, and fellow sophomore Jenna Southland was also impressive at the net defensively, leading Hillsdale in blocks per set as well.

Freshman Grace Drake also looked like a potential future star as a versatile setter/right side who can play all over the court, finishing with multiple triple-doubles on the season, and sophomores Caroline Lanicek and Hannah Baker both took big steps forward as well.

Freshmen Madison Peal and Taylor Cook also got valuable early playing time in their first seasons and look like valuable additions to an exciting young core for the Chargers.

That young core has Hillsdale aiming to climb the standings in 2026 and get back to conference title contention. With several of the teams that finished ahead of the Chargers slated to take heavy graduation losses, Hillsdale has a shot to get in the mix again if it can continue to build on its late-season momentum into the coming campaign.