Hillsdale 3, Northwood 0

November 10, 2011 - For the seventh time in the past eight seasons, the Hillsdale College volleyball team has advanced past the first round of the GLIAC Tournament.

The Chargers captured their first-round tournament victory of this season Thursday night in a 3-0 win over Northwood University. Hillsdale, now 25-2 on the season, will face third-seeded Saginaw Valley State University Saturday at Ferris State.

The Chargers won the sets by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-18. It was the team's fifth consecutive sweep.

Northwood jumped ahead 8-4 in the first set, but the Charger offense woke up and outscored the Timberwolves 21-8 to close out the set one victory. Ashlee Crowder and Clara Leutheuser combined for 11 kills and no errors in the first set.

Set two saw the Chargers continue their momentum from the first set, building up a 19-9 lead before Northwood staged a comeback. The Timberwolves pulled to within two at one point, but Hillsdale got kills from Caitlin Kopmeyer and Lauren Grover to close out the second set.

The Chargers never trailed in the third set, maintaining full control of the contest. Hillsdale scored six of the match's final eight points.

Senior Ashlee Crowder was once aagin unstoppable, as she led all players with 14 kills. She also played an active match defensively, with 14 digs in an terrific all-around effort.

Senior libero Morgan Podkul led the team with 16 digs and provided excellent defensive coverage, particularly in the second and third sets.

Sophomore Caitlin Kopmeyer had an energetic match with seven kills, a .261 hitting percentage and eight digs. Senior Clara Leutheuser had seven kills and four total blocks, while Grover had four kills, hit .400 and three total blocks.

Senior Apryl Schmucker added 33 assists, four kills and nine digs to the Hillsdale attack.