The Hillsdale College volleyball team battled back from a 2-1 deficit to force a deciding fifth set, but couldn't pull off a road victory at Ohio Dominican on Saturday.

Hillsdale started the match on fire, hitting .560 with 15 kills and just one attack error to demolish the host Panthers in the first set, 25-15, and take an early advantage. The Chargers couldn't sustain that momentum in the second set, falling behind 4-0 at the start. While Hillsdale was able to battle back, including with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 19-17 late, the Chargers never got out in front as ODU pulled off a 25-23 victory to even up the match.

The Chargers seized the momentum to start the third set, taking an 8-4 lead, but an 8-0 run by Ohio Dominican flipped the set in the Panthers' favor, and ODU was able to hold off the Chargers as Hillsdale tightened things up late to take a 25-21 win and a 2-1 edge. 

Backs to the wall in set four, Hillsdale found its footing offensively again, taking an early 6-1 lead. ODU hung tough, cutting the Chargers lead to a single point multiple times, but Hillsdale held on, thanks to two big kills down the stretch from Taylor Cook and support from Ellie Fles and Caroline Lanicek as well. A 25-20 Hillsdale win evened up the match at two sets apiece.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Hillsdale's night. ODU jumped on the Chargers in the deciding fifth set, roaring out to a 9-1 lead that all but ended the match in the Panthers' favor. 

Hillsdale outhit ODU .214 to .170, thanks in part to that dominant first set, but Ohio Dominican's volume proved superior, with 64 kills to Hillsdale's 52. ODU also had seven aces to Hillsdale's three to give them another important scoring edge in a close match. 

Caroline Lanicek was Hillsdale's top player offensively, with 14 kills on .483 hitting and three total blocks. Ellie Fles added nine kills and two service aces for the Chargers, and middle hitters Molly Kennedy and Ella Vandermark each chipped in seven kills and a combined seven blocks as well. 

Libero Chloe Pierce finished with 23 digs to lead Hillsdale defensively, while Ella Byrum added 13 digs as well. Setter Grace Drake added 41 assists and 12 digs for the Chargers.

Hillsdale (4-5, 0-2 G-MAC) has a short turnaround to a critical match against rival Northwood on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Chargers will look to get back on track against the Timberwolves in their first home match of the season in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.