Volleyball Wins Fourth Straight Saturday
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hillsdale (15-11, 7-8 GLIAC) | 13 | 16 | 25 | 21 | 1 |
|
Michigan Tech (15-13, 10-5 GLIAC) | 25 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 3 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech volleyball team won its fourth straight Saturday (Nov. 5) with a 3-1 victory over Hillsdale at the SDC Gym. The Huskies won 25-13, 25-16, 22-25, and 25-21 to improve to 15-13 overall and 10-5 in the GLIAC.
"Today was another good win for our team," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "We made it a little bit more exciting than we would of liked, but we're playing our best ball of the season. We knew the schedule would be in our favor and that we needed to peak at this time of the year."
Tech jumped out to an 11-1 lead in the first and controlled throughout. Emilia Widen and Rachel Ping saw action both recording kills down the stretch.
In the second, the home team slowly built a 20-10 lead. A kill by Mariah Sherman gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
Hillsdale (15-11, 7-8 GLIAC) responded in the third. With the set tied at 11, the Chargers scored six straight and controlled late to make it 2-1.
Tech again took a lead in the fourth frame before the visitors scored five straight to knot it at 14. With the Black and Gold leading 22-20, Aubrey Ficek had a pair of kills sandwiching a Stephanie Dietrich kill for the 3-1 win.
"I think the way we're playing demonstrates the way we're feeling right now," Jennings added. "Thursday's practice was the most spirited practice I've experienced in my time here at Tech. I know we're hungry and the players are doing the things we're asking them to do and making the necessary adjustments."
Aubrey Ficek and Lauren Emmert led Tech's offense with double digit kills. Ficek had 14 kills and added nine digs. Emmert tallied 12 kills while hitting .346. MacAulay Petersen (7 kills) and Mariah Sherman (6 kills) contributed to the balanced attack while both hitting over .260.
Rachel Pohlod set the attack with 49 assists and added eight digs and four kills. Elle Heinonen dug up 20 balls, while Courtney Kurkie tallied 10 digs.
Service aces were again a major factor in the game with the Huskies tallying 13. Halie Hart's six led the way while Pohlod and Heinonen each added a pair.
The Chargers were led offensively by Kara Vyletel and Erin Holsinger with 11 kills each. Taylor Bennett had 29 assists and Taylor Wiese added 15 digs.
"Hillsdale is a storied program with a good coach," added Jennings. "They made a good comeback in the third, and we're hoping they give Grand Valley and Ferris a run for their money next week."
Tech is in a three-way tie for third overall and tied with Saginaw Valley State for second in the GLIAC North Division.
Tech wraps up the regular season with a pair of home matches next weekend. The Huskies host SVSU Friday at 5 p.m. and Lake Superior State Saturday at 4 p.m.
"Our match against Saginaw on Friday will be a great matchup," said Jennings. "We beat them earlier this year down at their place, and I know they have improved a ton since then."
