Hilfinger Breaks Single Match Assist Record As No. 17 Express Clinch Share Of OCCAC Title With Five Set Win Over Sinclair CC
Dayton, OH---After her team had dropped the first two sets to Sinclair CC on Wednesday after having lost only two games in 10 OCCAC matches this year, Molly Hilfinger made sure her team didn't lose.
By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Dayton, OH---After her team had dropped the first two sets to Sinclair CC on Wednesday after having lost only two games in 10 OCCAC matches this year, Molly Hilfinger made sure her team didn't lose.
The sophomore setter broke a 15-year-old program single match record as she produced 64 assists to help the Express secure a 24-26, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 16-14 comeback win over the Tartan Pride in five sets.
In doing so, Hilfinger helped her team clinch at least a share of the program's third straight and 13th OCCAC championship overall.
Hilfinger, who broke Mackenzie Lehman's Oct. 8, 1997 record of 61 assists, also had three kills, 11 digs and two assisted blocks. She is now seventh in the nation in overall assists with 1,122, while she is also 187 assists away from tying the program's all-time assists record.
Dakia Sellers (25), Alyssa Meis (24) and Jazmine Thomas (16) each also had their single match highs in kills, while Meis had a personal season-high in digs with 24.
Meis (473) and Sellers (472) are the top two kill producers in the nation at the NJCAA D-II level. As an interesting side note, Sinclair's Jessica Thobe is third.
Also contributing in digs were Lisa Urbanski with 19, Brandi Schimming with 12, Hilfinger, and Bailey Windham with eight.
Dominique Yates led the Express in assisted blocks with six, while Kenzie Kleinhenz and Sellers each had four. Sellers added a team-high two solo blocks.
Overall, the Express had 72 kills, 65 assists, two service aces, 90 digs, three solo blocks and 19 assisted blocks. They set a team match high for most assists this year.
Sinclair fell to 29-5 overall (8-4 OCCAC) with the loss. With the victory, the Express (30-9 overall, 11-0 OCCAC) can clinch the OCCAC championship outright with a victory at home in their final regular season match against Columbus State Community College on Friday beginning at 6 p.m.