The Ashland University volleyball team suffered its first defeat of the 2019 season by falling to host No. 19 Hillsdale in straight sets, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22, on Thursday (Sept. 12) night in Michigan.
It was the first time since the final match of the 2017 season that the Eagles were not able to take a set off an opponent.
On Thursday, the Eagles (4-1) were not able to click offensively, hitting .176 overall, while the Chargers (4-1) managed a .233 mark.
The match started well for Ashland as the Eagles scored the first four points on errors by the Chargers, the last coming off a block by redshirt-freshman Chelsey Farris and sophomore Erin Krupar.
Hillsdale was able to score the next seven points to take the lead and the Chargers were able to ride that through the duration of the set
Hillsdale went on to win Set 2 before the Eagles led for much of the third set. Ashland led by as much as four points at 9-5 after a Hillsdale attacking error. The Eagles still led by three at 17-14 on a kill by junior Brooke Peiffer, but the Chargers scored the next three points and went on an 11-4 run to win the match.
Senior Sophi Cudworth led the Eagles with 14 kills (.323) and Krupar added 11 kills (.100). Junior McKinley Smith led the back row with 18 digs. Peiffer had 14 and sophomore Sophie Dahn had 13. Sophomore Zoey Peck handed out 33 assists.
Allyssa Van Wienen led the Chargers with 14 kills (.323).
The Eagles will play two matches on Friday (Sept. 13) in Hillsdale. Ashland plays No. 16 Palm Beach Atlantic at 11 a.m. and Clarion at 5 p.m.
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