September 18, 2008 - With first place in the GLIAC South Division already firmly in its grasp, the Hillsdale College volleyball team will be on the road this weekend trying to further distance itself from its competition in the division.

The Chargers, 11-2 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC, travel to Northwood Friday night and Wayne State Saturday afternoon in a pair of key divisional matchups. The match vs. the Timberwolves tips off at 7 p.m., while the Chargers and Warriors face off in Detroit at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Hillsdale is ranked 19th in the nation, and has a one-game lead over Ashland and a two-game lead over both Northwood and Wayne State in the GLIAC South Division.

This road trip is a new one for the te to make, thanks to Northwood's move into the South Division. With the changes to the GLIAC in effect for 2008, Tiffin and Northwood join the South Division, replacing Erie, Pa. schools Gannon and Mercyhurst. Now, the GLIAC's two divisions are balanced with six teams apiece.

The Chargers have enjoyed some success in recent years against Northwood. Hillsdale has won four straight matches over the Timberwolves, a reversal of the rivalry prior to 2004. From 1996-2003, Northwood was 10-0 against the Chargers. But, as Hillsdale has ascended into becoming a nationally ranked power, it has also taken over dominance in the rivalry with Northwood over the past four years.

Hillsdale has won eight straight matches against Wayne State, and hasn't lost a single set in any of those matches since Sept. 13, 2005. That is five straight 3-0 sweeps over the Warriors, a team the Chargers haven't lost to since Nov. 7, 2003.

The Chargers have been boosted this season by its strong freshman class. Ashlee Crowder and Clara Leutheuser rank 1-2 on the team in kills, and Crowder was named the GLIAC South Division Player of the Week this week. Leutheuser is second in the GLIAC in hitting percentage, behind junior teammate Emily Bennett.

Hillsdale is first in the GLIAC in both team hitting percentage and opponents' hitting percentage, which shows how balanced the team is on both sides of the net. The Chargers are fourth in the GLIACV in team blocks per set, and is third in team service aces.

However, this isn't your father's Wayne State volleyball team. The 2008 Warriors have a new head coach, Phil Nickel, who has improved the talent level and energy within the program in just his first three weeks of his first season with the team.

One key addition to the Wayne State lineup is Lauren Mallast, who is a transfer from Macomb Community College. She is second in the GLIAC in blocks per set, with an impressive 1.51 mark. She is the primary reason Wayne State ranks second in the GLIAC in team blocks per set.

Hillsdale has won the GLIAC South Division two years in a row, and is 35-2 in conference play dating back to the start of the 2006 season. If the Chargers win both Friday and Saturday, the latter win will be the 250th of head coach Chris Gravel's career.