November, 3, 2006
By Tim Sayers
Collegian Reporter

For the first time in 24 years, a Hillsdale College athletic team completed their regular season undefeated. Last Friday, the women’s volleyball team traveled to Erie, Pa., holding a 25-0 record. Saturday, they traveled back to campus still undefeated.

Hillsdale defeated conference foes Mercyhurst and Gannon with 3-0 sweeps. The team defeated Mercyhurst 30- 22, 30-26 and 30-22 before taking care of Gannon 30-26, 30- 18 and 30-19.

“The game against Mercyhurst was a little rough,” head coach Chris Gravel said. “It’s tough to come off the bus, after a day of traveling, and play, but we were able to fight through it. Against Gannon, we came out a lot stronger and played well. It was also nice to be able to provide other players who may not get to play as much but still work hard every day in practice a chance to play, and they are performing well.”

The two victories moved the Chargers to a final regular season record of 27-0 overall and 17-0 in the GLIAC.

Over the weekend, Hillsdale was led by junior Melissa Bartlett’s combined 29 kills and 18 digs, junior Megan Howard’s 56 digs and sophomore Stephanie Booms’ 72 assists.

With the end of their regular season, the Chargers, as a team, put a cap on a season where they led the GLIAC conference in hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage and were in the top three in assists, kills, blocks and service aces.

Individually, seniors Taryn Rudland and Becky Grzegorski finished one and two in hitting percentage, Bartlett was fourth in total kills, and Booms finished second in assists and third in service aces. Rudland also finished second in blocks and Howard was fourth in total digs.

“The season was a little unreal,” Bartlett said. “We realize it’s quite an accomplishment to go undefeated, but at the same time, we expected to be good. It has also been really nice to have the support of everyone. The school and the community have just been great.”

Despite finishing the season undefeated, the team says they are not content. Instead, they are looking toward what is ahead of them.

“We’re still achieving our goals,” Gravel said. “The season was great, but now we’re entering our own little mini-season [the postseason].”

The Chargers now prepare for most important part of the team’s year – the postseason.

Hillsdale hosts the GLIAC conference tournament this week before competing in the regional tournament next Thursday through Saturday.

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