The Hillsdale College volleyball team showed toughness on the road on Saturday, overcoming a gut-wrenching 28-26 first set loss with three straight set victories to upset host Walsh in four sets.

The Cavaliers came in with a better G-MAC record than the Chargers and jumped on Hillsdale early, taking a 7-2 lead in the first set, but Hillsdale rallied and looked like it had established control late. The Chargers were up 24-22 with two set points but couldn't seal the deal, as Walsh outscored Hillsdale 6-2 to close the match and take the set, 28-26.

Undaunted, Hillsdale came out firing in set two, roaring out to a 12-3 lead behind balanced offense and never looking back on the way to a 25-16 set two victory to even up the match. Hillsdale had 16 kills to Walsh's nine in a dominant set performance.

Set three was the decisive moment in the match and tight. Hillsdale led for much of the set but couldn't shake the Cavaliers, and Walsh used a 5-1 run to take a 24-21 third set lead. This time, however, it was the Cavaliers' turn to fall victim to a late comeback, as the Chargers scored six of the last seven points. Kills by Ellie Fles and Taylor Brownsword, along with a block from Brownsword and Kennedy, helped Hillsdale fight off three consecutive match points, then another kill by Brownsword and block by Brownsword and Kennedy sealed a 27-25 victory and a 2-1 set lead.

Now with momentum, set four was lopsided in favor of Hillsdale, with the Chargers hitting an impressive .424 with 17 kills to bury Walsh in a 25-18 clincher.

Hillsdale's offense was the difference, as the Chargers outhit Walsh .243 to .141 and finished with 64 kills to the Cavaliers' 45. Junior Ellie Fles had a stellar match, hitting .441 with 17 kills and five block assists, while senior Marcelina Gorny chipped in 15 kills, sophomore Taylor cook added 14 kills, and freshman Taylor Brownsword chipped in 12 kills and four blocks.

Fifth-year senior Chloe Pierce and sophomore Madison Peal each chipped in 21 digs defensively, Hannah Baker added 14 digs, and Ella Byrum chipped in 10. Sophomore Grace Drake continued a strong second half of the season at setter by dishing out 51 assists along with six digs and three blocks, while Molly Kennedy chipped in four kills and five total blocks as well.

The win helps the Chargers, now 13-11 overall and 8-4 in G-MAC play, overtake Walsh for fifth in the overall G-MAC standings, and keeps hope of a Hillsdale home quarterfinal game in the G-MAC Tournament alive. The Chargers have won three straight and will look to keep rolling with a game at Malone scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow.