ROCKFORD, ILL. - Coming off a season-opening win last Thursday, the Madison College women's volleyball team drew four extremely challenging matchups at the McHenry County College Invitational this past weekend, and in the end, the WolfPack settled for losses against four NJCAA Division II opponents. The action at the UW Health Sports Factory opened on Friday with a 3-0 loss to Muskegon Community College (MI) and a 3-1 setback against North Iowa Area Community College. Saturday's games saw the 'Pack falter 3-0 in matches against Parkland College (IL) and Carl Sandburg College.

Match #1: Muskegon Community College 3, Madison College 0

Facing a Jayhawks team that was receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll, Madison College held their own in dropping three closely-contested sets by scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 25-17. The WolfPack posted a .178 attack percentage with 16 kills in the match, the Muskegon CC had 38 kills and a .157 percentage. Both teams picked up five aces, however, the Jayhawks nearly doubled the 'Pack in blocks with an 11-6 advantage.

Freshman Amelia Walton registered a team-leading five kills and hit .267. The former Verona Area High School athlete also had a team-best 2.0 blocks and posted six digs. Fellow first year Calla Borchert finished with four kills and paced the team with a .667 hitting percentage. Kaleia Lawrence, a first year setter from Escanaba, Michigan, tallied ten assists and two aces to lead the 'Pack in both categories.

Madison College is now 3-2 all-time against Muskegon Community College.

Match #2: North Iowa Area Community College 3, Madison College 1

Hoping to rebound from the season's first loss, the WolfPack landed the first punch against the Trojans, but couldn't sustain the pressure in narrow 22-25, 25-21, 26-24, and 25-18 setback. Madison College found more success offensively with 35 kills and a .364 attack percentage. The 'Pack was able to post seven blocks to the oppositions six. NIACC tallied 58 kills and .219 overall, and also held a 9-4 edge in aces and a 58-46 differential in digs.

After not recording an assist in the day's first match, freshman Skyler Salter stepped up to drive the Madison College offense and racked up 32 assists from the setter position. Sophomore Cathleen Flannery was on the receiving end of many sets from the Milton, Wisconsin, native, and hammered home a season-high 12 kills. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native was nearly perfect in the match and hit an impressive .917 percentage. Calla Borchert was second on the team with eight kills, with the Lake Mills, Wisconsin, product involved in 2.0 blocks. Also on the defensive end, sophomore Sage Esser posted a career-high 12 digs.

The loss snaps a three-game win streak over the Trojans and puts the all-time series at 3-2 in favor of the WolfPack.

Match #3: Parkland College 3, Madison College 0

Saturday's opener pitted Madison College against the reigning DII national runners-up and the current #2-ranked team in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll. The Cobras took the win with set scores of 25-16, 25-7, and 25-10. Despite 11 kills in the opening set, the 'Pack was held to 16 kills for the match and a season-low .089 attack percentage. Parkland College held statistical advantages across the board, with 37 kills, a 10-3 lead in aces, an 11-3 edge in blocks, and a 36-10 differential in digs.

Freshman and Green Bay, Wisconsin, native Sidni Walgurski tied with Cathleen Flannery for the team lead in kills at four, while Olivia Marron and Calla Borchert each had three. Borchert was the most efficient hitter with a .429 attack percentage. Freshman Lena La Fleur established a new season-high with 15 assists. Defensively, Madison College was led by sophomore Libby Ruhle's three digs and freshman Shauna Rowin-Fox' 2.0 blocks.

The WolfPack fall to 1-3 all-time against the Cobras.

Match #4: Carl Sandburg College 3, Madison College 0

The weekend's final match came against reigning Region IV champion and #20-ranked Carl Sandburg College, and the Chargers came out on top by a 25-15, 25-19, and 25-18 tally. The WolfPack racked up 24 kills, but again saw their attack percentage dip to .061, while Carl Sandburg College hit .275 en route to 32 kills. Both teams had three aces and were nearly even in blocks with the 'Pack owning a 6-5 edge. The back row showed major improvement with 47 digs.

The improved defensive effort was led by a trio of players reaching double-digit digs. Sophomore Cathleen Flannery tracked down a career-high 15 digs, while fellow second year Sage Esser had a dozen and freshman Amelia Walton finished with 11. Another sophomore, Samantha Kessenich, was tops offensively with seven kills and a .238 attack percentage. Flannery finished second with five kills. Of the team's 19 assists, nine were from Kaleia Lawrence, followed by six from Skyler Salter, and three from Lena La Fleur as the first year trio continues to battles for the top setter spots.

The meeting was the first-ever between the two Region IV programs.

Up Next:

Madison College (1-4) returns home for a pair of matches inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium this week, beginning Tuesday, August 27 against Oakton Community College (1-3). The Owls opened their season in the same McHenry County College Invitational, and suffered similar losses to NIACC and Parkland College. The WolfPack is 9-0 all-time against Oakton, including a three-set sweep last year. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.

All home Madison College volleyball matches can be streamed live at MadisonCollege.tv.

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