October 4, 2007 - It wasn't easy at times, but the Hillsdale College volleyball team once again came up with big plays at key moments to defeat Michigan Tech University, 3-1 Thursday night.

Hillsdale, ranked 11th in the nation, is now 17-4 overall and 8-0 in GLIAC play. The team will play at home again Friday night against Northern Michigan University.

The Chargers came out executing sharply and playing well in a 30-16 rout of the Huskies in the first game. Hillsdale held MTU to a team hitting percentage of -.111 in the opening game.

But Michigan Tech responded well in the second game, rallying from a 28-27 deficit to post a 30-28 victory. Tech only committed two hitting errors in the second game and took full advantage of Hillsdale's mistakes down the stretch.

Game four's pattern followed that of game three, with the two teams tied 29-29. A Michigan Tech service error led to a game-winning kill by freshman Amanda Bigney to give the Chargers the 31-29 win.

Hillsdale held control throughout game four, holding Michigan Tech to .103 hitting.

The outside hitting combination of Melissa Bartlett and Kittrick Smith gave Hillsdale offense Michigan Tech had a hard time defending throughout the match. Bartlett recorded her fifth straight match of 20 or more kills, notching 22 with an impressive hitting percentage of .400. Smith displayed her improved power in getting 14 kills with a .333 hitting percentage.

Junior Stephanie Booms handed out 50 assists, while freshman Sydney Dow led the team with 16 digs, the second-highest total of her career. Senior Jen Pilot had five block assists.

Michigan Tech outblocked Hillsdale 18-8 and was led by 11 kills from Kelly Jorgensen, the 2006 GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

The Chargers have now won 28 straight conference matches, dating back to Oct. 22, 2005. Northern Michigan holds the GLIAC record for longest conference winning streak at 42, set between the 1992 and 1994 seasons.

To view the box score, click on the link below.

Box score