October 18, 2007 - With fall break underway around the campus of Hillsdale College, the Chargers' volleyball team will get some well-deserved rest this weekend.

After playing 12 GLIAC matches in the span of 27 days, Hillsdale has just one match this weekend, at home Friday night vs. Wayne State University starting at 7 p.m. The team is off Saturday, and will remain at home the weekend of Oct. 26-27.

The No. 14-ranked Chargers are coming off their first two conference losses of the season last weekend, both 3-2 heartbreakers to Ferris State and Grand Valley. Hillsdale's 10-2 GLIAC record ties it with Ashland for first place in the South Division. Prior to last weekend's losses, the Chargers had won 30 straight GLIAC matches.

Hillsdale had chances to win both matches on the road last weekend, playing in two of the toughest venues in the conference. Ferris State defeated Hillsdale 15-13 in the fifth game of their Friday night match, while Grand Valley edged the Chargers 15-11 in game five of a terrific Saturday afternoon matchup. Hillsdale has played Ferris State and Grand Valley on the road in three of the past four years.

Hillsdale is ranked fifth in the latest Great Lakes Regional rankings. The next set of rankings won't come out until Oct. 24.

The Chargers have enjoyed plenty of success vs. Wayne State in recent years, recording four straight 3-0 sweeps over the Warriors dating back to Nov. 5, 2005. Six of the past seven meetings between the teams have resulted in 3-0 victories for Hillsdale over Wayne State. The last time Wayne State beat Hillsdale was Nov. 7, 2003.

One of the positive developments to come out of the team's trip to west Michigan was the stellar play of freshman Amanda Bigney. Playing near her hometown of Cedar Springs, Bigney had nine kills and no errors in 15 attempts vs. Grand Valley, the best performance of her young career.

A win vs. Wayne State Friday would clinch the ninth 20-win season in Charger volleyball history. Head coach Chris Gravel has presided over four of those seasons, incuding last year's 29-2 record. The other 20-win seasons came during the 1980, 1981, 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001 campaigns. The team has won at least 19 matches four years in a row, the first time in program history that has been achieved.

Senior libero Megan Howard joined the 30-dig club for the fourth time this season last weekend, making her one of the most frequent visitors to that club in the nation this season. Senior Melissa Bartlett set a new career-high with 32 kills against Ferris State, and followed that up with 29 more kills against the Lakers. The 61 kills in two matches are a career-best for Bartlett.

Next Friday, the Chargers will honor their seniors on their final home weekend of the season when they host Mercyhurst College at 7 p.m. Saturday, the team will share the home event stage with the football team. Hillsdale takes on Gannon at 12 p.m., followed by the home football game against Tiffin starting at 2:30 p.m.