MADISON, WISC. - Looking for a little positive energy before starting the postseason, the Madison College women's volleyball team found it with a 3-0 sweep of NCAA Division III Lakeland University JV at H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium on Monday. The #9-ranked WolfPack ended a three-match losing streak by picking up the 25-15, 25-23, 25-19 win, and finish the regular season with a 16-11 record and a 5-2 mark on the home floor.

Madison College posted at least 13 kills in each set and hit at a .256 clip for the match, their highest attack percentage in four matches. The opening set saw the 'Pack fire on all cylinders en route to a .370 efficiency on 15 kills and just five attack errors, while the second and third sets required the home team to overcome deficits of five and seven, respectively. The WolfPack closed the second set with a 10-3 run, then turned the third set around with a 21-8 surge after trailing 11-4. Overall, they registered 43 kills on 42 assists, six aces, two blocks, and 49 digs.

Setter Olivia Darkow reached 40 assists for the fifth time this season and the first time since reaching 44 helpers nine matches ago. The West Bend, Wisconsin, native, fell short of a double-double with nine digs, but did make history with her team-leading five aces. The sophomore's third ace of the night surpassed Alison Babler's 124 career aces between 2003-2004 to become the program's all-time leader. Two aces later, Darkow broke Kayla Conner's single-season record with her 74th ace of the year.



Fellow sophomore Paige Hostetler, who already broke the career and season records for kills, added to her impressive totals with a team-best 16 kills as one of three WolfPack players to reach double-digits in that category. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native had a .290 attack percentage and five digs. Freshmen Isabella Carrillo and Tianna Sackett each had ten kills in the match, with Carrillo posting a .353 efficiency and Sackett ending at .286. The most efficient hitter of the night was first year defensive specialist and Madison, Wiscosnin, native Sage Esser, who hammered three kills on five attempts with one error for a .400 hitting percentage.

Sophomores Maddie Scalissi and Paige Alsum led the effort along the back row with ten digs apiece, marking the 13th consecutive game with double-digit digs for Scalissi and the first in eight matches for Alsum.

The WolfPack, who also beat the Muskies JV squad in five sets on the road earlier this month, are now 5-0 all-time against Lakeland University.

Up Next:

Madison College was awarded the second seed in the upcoming 2018 NJCAA Region IV Division III Tournament after a vote of region coaches broke a points tie between the WolfPack and Harper College. As a result, Madison College and top-seeded Rock Valley College (21-15) will earn byes into the semifinal round on Saturday, October 27 at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. The WolfPack will play the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal match between third-seeded Harper College (21-12) and sixth-seeded Milwaukee Area Technical College (5-17). The Madison College semifinal will begin approximately at noon, with the two semifinal winners meeting in the championship at 3:00 p.m.



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