The Hillsdale College women's volleyball team almost rallied from a slow start, but couldn't overcome a red-hot Ohio Dominican squad in a 22-25, 16-25, 25-18, 19-25 loss in the Chargers' home and G-MAC opener on Friday night.

The Chargers quickly fell behind the Panthers, who hit over .459 with 39 kills to just four attack errors in the first two sets to take a quick 2-0 lead. Hillsdale fought back in the third set, hitting .515 with 19 kills of their own to get on the board, and had control early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 6-2, and then 12-8, lead.

ODU rallied with three service aces in five points to take the lead in the fourth set, and after a short back and forth that included two kills from Adi Sysum, the Panther went on a 7-0 run to put the set and the match away.

Along with conceding a big hitting night offensively to the Panthers, Hillsdale also gave up nine service aces to ODU, which meant a solid offensive night for the Chargers (.313, 57 kills) went unrewarded.

Sysum led Hillsdale offensively, hitting .500 with 10 kills and five total blocks, including four solo blocks, and sophomore Hannah Baker just missed a double- double with 10 kills and nine digs as well. 

Taylor Cook and Jenna Southland each chipped in nine kills for the Chargers, as did Caroline Lanicek in a balanced offensive night. Madison Peal led the Chargers defensively with 12 digs, and Josie TeSlaa chipped in 12 digs and led Hillsdale with 40 assists as well.

With the loss, Hillsdale (2-5, 0-1 G-MAC) is below .500 in the G-MAC for the first time since the first week of conference matches in 2017, the Chargers' inaugural season in the conference. Hillsdale will look to bounce back tomorrow with a home match against Cedarville at 1 p.m.