SUGAR GROVE, ILL. - Following an extremely fast turnaround after Thursday's season opening sweep at Elgin Community College, the Madison College women's volleyball team was back on the road Friday and Saturday for the Waubonsee Community College Invitational, where they posted a 1-3 record over the weekend against mostly NJCAA Division II opponents. The #8 WolfPack opened with a highly-competitive 3-1 loss against #10 Sauk Valley Community College in a matchup of ranked teams, but recovered for a 3-0 defeat of Oakton Community College for the lone win of the two-day event. Saturday's matches finished with a 3-1 setback against Des Moines Area Community College and a sweep at the hands of Owens Community College (OH).

Match #1: #10 Sauk Valley Community College 3, #8 Madison College 1 (Friday, 10:00 a.m.)

Despite finishing within one of the Skyhawks in kills for the match, Madison College dropped the match 25-10, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18 to highly-rated Sauk Valley. The WolfPack finished with a .208 hitting percentage compared to a .483 clip for SVCC.

Both teams struggled out of the gates, with Madison College posting just four kills on 14 attempts with seven errors for a -.214 efficiency in the opening set, compared to three kills on eight attempts and a -.125 mark by the Skyhawks. The second set saw both squads settle in and the quality of play remained at a high level over the final three sets.

Outside hitter Paige Hostetler was the lone player in with double-figure kills for the 'Pack, knocking down a dozen with a .318 attack percentage. She was tops in digs with four and also matched fellow sophomore Paige Alsum for the team lead in aces with three each, as Madison College registered 12 service aces. Setter Olivia Darkow was the catalyst with a career-best 32 assists out of the 36 total kills. Freshman Isabella Carrillo had six kills and a team-leading two solo blocks.

The WolfPack is now 5-20-1 all-time against Sauk Valley Community College  (2-0), which has won five straight in the head-to-head series.

Match #2: #8 Madison College 3, Oakton Community College 0 (Friday, 3:15 p.m.)

A much better hitting performance in the second match of the day propelled Madison College to a sweep of Oakton Community College, though it didn't come without some tense moments as each of the final two sets went to extra points in a 25-14, 26-24, 26-24 match victory. 

The WolfPack committed just one hitting error on 16 attempts in the opening set, using a .750 efficiency to pick up 13 kills in a run-away win. After scoring the match's first eight points, the 'Pack eventually led by a 12-1 margin. Madison College rallied for the win in the second after trailing 22-16, ending the set on a 10-2 run that included a six-point service run by freshman Sage Esser to close it out. Sophomore Paige Hostetler stepped up late in the third to clinch the match, smashing two kills to break ties at 23 and 24 points. 

The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native again led the WolfPack in kills with 16 and a .609 efficiency, as well as a team-best eight digs and six service aces. Madison College served up a 16-9 edge in service aces en route to a season-high mark. Olivia Darkow had a match-high 27 assists to help the 'Pack improve to 9-0 all-time against the Owls (0-2).

Match #3: Des Moines Area Community College 3, #8 Madison College 1 (Saturday, 10:00 a.m.)

Saturday's opening match ended with the Bears leading the WolfPack in every statistical team category as part of a 25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22 match. Madison College never hit above .200 in a set, while DMACC was inside of that number on just one occasion.

It proved to be a career-match for Paige Hostetler after using 50 attack attempts to collect 18 kills, a career-high numbers in both categories. The second-year outside hitter also posted her first double-double of the season with 11 digs. Sophomore Maddie Scalissi was persistent in the back row with a season-high 17 digs. Sophomore setter Olivia Darkow dished out 32 assists to match her career high mark set one day earlier. Sage Esser, a freshman from Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, served three aces to lead all players.

In the head-to-head series, Des Moines Area Community College (4-0) boasts a 2-4 edge in wins.

Match #4: Owens Community College (OH) 3, #8 Madison College 0 (Saturday, 2:15 p.m.)

In the weekend's final match, Madison College was swept for the first time this season, losing to the 2017 NJCAA Division II National Runners-up by a 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 final. The Express (3-1), who have dropped down to NJCAA Division III, out-blocked the 'Pack by a 5-0 margin to help provide some of the differential in a close-played match.

The first set was even at 23 before an OCC kill and a WolfPack error closed it out, and gave way to a second set that became lopsided as Owens (3-1) raced out to a 19-7 advantage. Down the stretch of the third set, the Express outscored the 'Pack 9-4 after sitting tied at 16-16 in the first-ever match played between the two programs.

For the fifth consecutive match, Paige Hostetler lead all hitters with 15 kills, but did struggle with seven hitting errors. Middle blocker Tianna Sackett  reached nine kills and did so on 20 attempts for a team-high .350 efficiency. Also for the fifth straight match, Olivia darkow was the top setter with 30 assists, giving her an average of 8.8 per set already this season. Freshman libero/defensive specialist Kacee Kruczek stepped in with ten digs.

Up Next:

Madison College (2-3) will be home for the first time this season on Thursday, August 30 when they host Joliet Junior College (2-3) in the home and North Central Community College Conference openers. The WolfPack is 19-2 all-time and have taken 14 consecutive matches against the Wolves, including both meetings last fall. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. and the entire match will be streamed live via MadisonCollege.TV, as well as on the Madison College Athletics Facebook page.

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