Against a strong opponent from the Midwest Region on Friday night, the Hillsdale College volleyball team was on target to move to 2-0 on the season.

Hillsdale took down host Wayne State in four sets with an impressive offensive performance, hitting .361 with just eight attack errors in the match to best the Warriors despite a 69-56 edge for Wayne State in kills.

The Chargers had fewer kills than Wayne State in each of the first three sets, but committed just four attack errors to the Warriors' 20 to come out ahead. Hillsdale rallied from a 20-15 deficit in a wild first set to nearly take the victory, but came up just short in a 29-27 final.

Much like the Chargers' opening match victory over Indiana (PA), a first set loss only seemed to motivate the Chargers. Hillsdale weathered an early storm in set two, coming back from a 7-3 deficit early and pulling ahead for good with a 5-1 run at 17-15 that included a pair of blocks by senior Molly Kennedy.

Hillsdale played its best set of the match in a critical set three, hitting .500 with 16 kills and no attack errors to hold off a game effort by the Warriors in a 25-23 victory. It was a team effort by the Chargers up front, as Kennedy, Ellie Fles, Taylor Cook and Caroline Lanicek each finished with three or more kills. Kennedy struck the crucial blow with a kill to break a 23-23 tie and give Hillsdale the edge it needed to pull out the set.

The deciding set four was all Hillsdale, as the Chargers jumped out to a 14-10 lead, then went on a 6-1 run punctuated by back-to-back blocks by Kennedy and Cook that put Hillsdale up 20-11 and all but put the match away.

Along with efficient offense, Hillsdale also held the edge defensively at the net, with nine blocks to Wayne State's three. 

Caroline Lanicek had a sensational match for the Chargers, hitting .500 with a team-high 16 kills, while Ellie Fles chipped in 16 kills as well and added 14 digs for a double-double. Taylor Cook chipped in a career high 11 kills and three blocks for Hillsdale, and Molly Kennedy added seven kills and seven total blocks.

Setter Grace Drake finished with a career high 43 assists and 10 digs for the Chargers, while Chloe Pierce led Hillsdale defensively with 16 digs and Ella Byrum added 11 digs and two aces.

Hillsdale will look to complete an undefeated opening weekend on Saturday, as the Chargers close out the Warrior Invite with a 2:45 match against Quincy in Detroit.