Hillsdale 3, U. of Indianapolis 2


September 2, 2011 - Longtime NFL coach Tony Dungy used to say "nothing good happens after midnight." However, he didn't happen to be in attendance late Friday night/early Saturday morning to see the Hillsdale College volleyball team earn one of its most important wins of recent seasons.

The Chargers came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the University of Indianapolis 3-2 in a match that ended at 1:15 in the morning. Hillsdale is now 1-1 on the season.

Thanks to a tournament format that ran more than three hours over schedule, the Chargers and Greyhounds didn't begin their match until 11:40 p.m. Despite suffering through hot and stuffy conditions in addition to the late hour, this was a Final Four-worthy match between two talented and determined opponents.

The Greyhounds have held a hex over the Chargers in recent years, eliminating Hillsdale from the NCAA tournament in three of the past four seasons. The past two have been particularly heartbreaking for Hillsdale, having lost each match 3-2 after leading 2-1.

Friday night/Saturday morning, Hillsdale turned the tables on Indianapolis, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to post a 25-20 win in set four. The Chargers found extra reserves of energy, adn executed brilliantly in the fifth set, taking down the Greyhounds 15-7.

Hillsdale was not only able to overcome recent history, but an incredible performance by Indianapolis' Kristina Hefferan, who delivered 31 kills for the home team. But as the match wore on, the Chargers were better able to counter her offense and put its own biggest strength on display.

Hillsdale outblocked Indianapolis 21-4 in the match, providing a huge edge in a contest that was so tightly played.

Senior middle hitter Clara Leutheuser tied a career-high and school record with 15 block assists in the match. Her skill and presence at the net were two things the Greyhounds simply could not counter. She also had 13 kills and hit .400 for the match.

Senior Ashlee Crowder played a brilliant offensive match with 17 kills and just one attack error, hitting .457 for the match. She also had seven block assists and 13 digs.

Senior Morgan Podkul led Hillsdale defensively with 17 digs, while sophomore Caitlin Kopmeyer had 11. Senior Apryl Schmucker had 45 assists along with three kills, six digs and three block assists. Junior Lauren Grover was second on the team with 14 kills.

The bottom line: these players will be involved in hundreds of matches in their careers, and as a result, very few of them will stand out as stories they will tell their future husbands or children about. This match is one that stories will be told about, for years to come.
Bulldogs 3, Chargers 2
Box score

In a titanic battle of top-20 programs, the Hillsdale College volleyball team lost its first match of the new season by the slimmest of margins.

The Chargers, ranked 10th in the nation, lost by a 3-2 score to No. 12 Minnesota-Duluth Friday afternoon at the University of Indianapolis. It was the opening match of the first tournament of the new year.

The Bulldogs came from behind to post a 16-14 win in the fifth set, volleyball's version of "overtime." Hillsdale won the first set 25-14, and the fourth set, 25-21. UM-D controlled the middle two sets, winning by scores of 25-16 and 25-18.

Two players hit double-figures in kills, led by 14 from senior Ashlee Crowder. Junior Lauren Grover added 13 kills for Hillsdale. The Chargers racked up 12 total blocks as a team in the match, led by eight from senior Clara Leutheuser. The All-American middle hitter also had nine kills with a .444 hitting percentage.

Sophomore Bekah Draves made a big impact from her right-side position, particularly in the fifth set, where she had four of her seven kills for the match. Draves hit .357 and added three block assists to her fine performance.

Senior Morgan Podkul made her first career start at libero, and led the team with 18 digs. Senior Brogan Wells had 10 digs, while Crowder and sophomore Caitlin Kopmeyer had nine digs apiece. Senior Apryl Schmucker delivered two service aces and had 40 assists.

Saturday wrap-up

Hillsdale 3, West Florida 0

September 3, 2011 – Less than 12 hours after an emotional win over the University of Indianapolis, the Hillsdale College volleyball team had to take the court again, against another ranked opponent. The result was much less dramatic, though just as positive, for the Chargers.

Hillsdale handed a 3-0 defeat to the University of West Florida, who was ranked 19th in the nation in the AVCA’s preseason top 25 poll. The Chargers won the match by scores of 25-19, 25-22 and 25-20.

Hillsdale’s team strength, its blocking, was on lethal display in this match. The Chargers recorded 13 total team blocks, averaging more than four per set for the second match in a row. The blocking was led in part by senior Amanda Geelhoed, who played big with three kills and five block assists, many of those coming in the first set, which the Chargers dominated.

Hillsdale held the Argonaughts to a .122 team hitting percentage, and UWF committed nine hitting errors in each set, thanks in part to Hillsdale’s powerful front line.

Offensively, Hillsdale hit .275 as a team, and the trio of Lauren Grover, Clara Leutheuser and Ashlee Crowder combined for 29 kills and just six errors.

Apryl Schmucker had 32 assists and six digs, while Morgan Podkul led Hillsdale with 15 digs. Caitlin Kopmeyer had 11 digs for the Chargers.

Hillsdale 3, Missouri S&T 0

The Chargers wrapped up a succesful weekend with a key in-region victory over a much-improved squad from Missouri S&T Saturday evening.

Hillsdale swept the Miners 3-0, winning the sets by scores of 25-23, 25-13 and 25-21. The Chargers are 3-1 on the season and will open up conference play next week at Findlay.

The Miners staged a rally in the first set that closed a seven-point deficit to one, 24-23. But Hillsdale finished out the set and carried the momentum into the second set, the team's most complete set of the weekend.

The Chargers held the Miners to a team hitting percentage of -.167 in the second set, breezing to its most lopsided win of any set during the weekend. The Chargers recorded 11.5 team blocks, nearly matching its four-per-set average over the first four matches of the season.

No Hillsdale player had double digits in kills vs. the Miners, but the team featured excellent balance. Lauren Grover and Ashlee Crowder each had eight kills, while Clara Leutheuser had seven kills and hit .400 or better for the fourth time in four matches this weekend.

Sophomore Bekah Draves had six kills with no errors, for a .353 hitting percentage. Draves, Grover and Leutheuser each had five block assists for Hillsdale.

Apryl Schmucker had four kills, seven digs and 30 assists, while Morgan Podkul led the team in digs for the fourth match in a row (14). Caitlin Kopmeyer had nine digs, and contributed five kills and a .400 attack percentage to Hillsdale's win.