Hillsdale 3, Findlay 0

September 7, 2011 - It was a match of scoring streaks, but in the end, the Hillsdale College volleyball team got what it wanted out of its GLIAC opener Wednesday night.

Hillsdale recorded a 3-0 win over the University of Findlay on the road. The Chargers, ranked 11th in the country, are now 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the GLIAC. The team will return to Ohio this weekend for matches against Ashland and Lake Erie.

The Chargers won the sets by scores of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-22.

Hillsdale hit an uncharacteristically low .143 as a team, but made up for it with nine total blocks and nine service aces, the latter a season-high. Senior setter Apryl Schmucker had her deadly serve on full display, hitting the Oilers for four aces to go along with her 26 assists in the match.

Findlay jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first set, only to see Hillsdale storm back to score 32 of the match's next 40 points. That scoring run finished out the first set and continued into the second, when the Chargers raced out to a 10-0 lead. But the Oilers adjusted, and made it a tightly played set until falling 25-23.

Hillsdale played with more consistency in the third set. Findlay committed 10 service errors in the match, which also aided in the Chargers' win.

Junior middle hitter Lauren Grover led Hillsdale with nine kills. Senior middle hitter Clara Leutheuser had eight kills on just 11 attempts, hitting an impressive .545 in the match. Leutheuser has hit better than .400 in all five of the team's matches this season.

Grover, Leutheuser and senior Ashlee Crowder each had one solo block and two block assists for Hillsdale. Senior Morgan Podkul led the team with 10 digs, while freshman Bailey Lindner made her collegiate debut, playing well in limited time in the first set of the match.