Box score


November 20, 2010 - The Indianapolis roadblock remains.

The Hillsdale College volleyball team put together perhaps the finest season in its history in 2010. Yet, it could not overcome the same team that ended its 2009 season, in the same playoff round.

The Chargers lost a five-set heartbreaker to the University of Indianapolis Saturday night in front of a jam-packed Jesse Philips Arena. Hillsdale's season ends with a 29-2 record, while the Greyhounds, the defending regional champions, will take on Grand Valley State for the right to represent the Midwest Region in the 2010 Elite Eight Dec. 2-4 in Louisville, Ky.

Indianapolis got off to a strong start in the match, winning the opening set 25-20. But Hillsdale picked up its play in the middle two sets, earning wins of 25-17 and 25-21 to take a 2-1 lead over Indy. Just like in last year's regional semifinal. But, unfortunately for the Chargers, just like last year's regional semifinal, the Greyhounds upped their intensity and execution in all phases of the game.

A key lineup change helped Indianapolis starting with the fourth set. Lyndsay Callahan switched to the libero position, and helped the team's passing game from the back row in the final two sets. Indy took set four 25-20, and jumped out to an 8-3 lead when the teams switched sides in the fifth set.

But the Chargers didn't die, and showed some resolve in battling back from a deep deficit. Hillsdale kept digging, but the Greyhounds dug just a little deeper, playing outstanding defense, finding a way to dig up hard-hit balls by Hillsdale and turning them into quality chances on offense. Indianapolis' winning resolve and experience were on full display in this match.

The Chargers got within 13-10 in the fifth set after a kill by Ashlee Crowder. But Indy ended Hillsdale's season with the final two points of the set.

The Greyhounds didn't commit an attack error in the fifth set, and hit .333 as a team, compared to .172 for the Chargers in the final frame. Indy hit .257 for the match, compared to .208 for Hillsdale, a total reversal of what the Chargers did all season, when they led the GLIAC in attack percentage while ranking second in opponents' hitting percentage.

Indy's Kristina Hefferan was an unbelievable force in the match, leading all players with 22 kills to go along with a .348 attack percentage. She was also one of six Greyhounds with double-digit digs, a testament to how well the team played defense.

Three Chargers had 10 or more kills, led by Crowder's 16. Junior middle hitter Clara Leutheuser played big once again, with 15 kills and three block assists.

This match represented the final one in the distinguished careers of libero Sydney Dow (pictured at top) and outside hitter Amanda Bigney (pictured below). Dow, twice named the GLIAC Libero of the Year, concluded her outstanding career with a match-high 27 digs for the Chargers.

Bigney enjoyed her best collegiate season in 2010, and had an impressive 14 kills and a .265 attack percentage in the match. In the end, Hillsdale's seniors played as well as anyone could have hoped for in the match that ended up being their grand finale.

This 2010 season stood out for many reasons for Hillsdale. The 28-match winning streak, tied for the longest in school history. The back-to-back GLIAC regular season and tournament championships, a first in school history. A national ranking as high as number eight. A team that compiled the best conference record in the history of the GLIAC. Coach Chris Gravel's 300th career win. Regardless of the outcome of this match, the Chargers have a program that is firmly entrenched in the nation's elite at the Division II level.

The Greyhounds will play Grand Valley State University in the championship match at 4 p.m. These two teams are the last two Midwest Region champions, with GVSU winning in 2008 and Indy in 2009. Match time is 4 p.m.