MADISON, WISC. - There may have been some rust to shake off after not playing for a dozen days, however, in a key, late-season women's volleyball match, Madison College fell 3-1 to visiting Joliet Junior College on Tuesday inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The match was even after two sets before the 14th-ranked Wolves rallied for wins in both the third and fourth sets to claim a 25-17, 14-25, 25-21, 25-21 victory and a season sweep. The final home match of the regular season was celebrated with Sophomore Night, in which the WolfPack recognized the dedication and sacrifices of Aubrie Kappes, the lone second year player in the Class of 2022.

Joliet Junior College started the match with a 10-5 run in the opening set, and eventually secured the eight-point win. Madison College answered back in the second, and it started with their service game. Kappes, Tyra Anderson, and Katie Wagner all had aces as the WolfPack surged to a 13-7 lead. Another ace from Daryn Schaefer created set point for the Pack, and Gabby Hack finished off the nine-point victory with a block.

Even at 1-1 entering the third set, Madison College carried the momentum and took a 9-6 advantage on another Kappes ace. Seven consecutive points for the Wolves gave the visitors a 13-9 edge, however, it didn't last long, as the Pack pulled even at 16-16 with Kendall Weisensel's ace en route to a 19-17 lead going into a JJC timeout. The timeout triggered a momentum shift that saw Joliet Junior College win eight of the last ten points to take the set. 

In the crucial fourth set, Madison College led 11-8, but the Wolves earned nine of the next 11 points to go ahead 17-13. The WolfPack closed to within two on a couple of occasions, the last of which was 23-21 and forced another JJC timeout. The Wolves claimed back-to-back points out of the timeout to win the match.

Madison College amassed 47 kills, averaging 11.7 kills per set. The second set featured 13 kills, one attack error, and an impressive .444 attack percentage. The WolfPack committed 24 attack errors in the three set losses and finished with a .157 efficiency. They also totaled ten aces, nine blocks, and 48 digs.

A trio of freshman all produced double-digit kills, led by middle blocker/outside hitter Gabby Hack with 12 kills. It's the fourth match with ten or more for the Lake Mills, Wisconsin, native, who also posted a team-high .364 hitting percentage. 

Anderson was next with 11 kills on 51 attempts, followed by Weisensel with ten kills and 33 swings. The duo from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, now boasts 12 and eight matches, respectively, with double-digit kills. For Weisensel, she also registered 14 digs for her sixth double-double.

Schaefer, a first year setter, racked up 45 assists and a team-high four aces. She also tied with Anderson for the team lead in blocks with three. Libero Katie Wagner produced 18 digs.

Madison College still owns a 25-4 lead in the all-time series after the Wolves earned just their second regular-season series sweep since the two programs became North Central Community College Conference rivals in 2009. Joliet Junior College (18-14, 5-2) now has the upper hand as far as seeding for the upcoming Region 4 Tournament, which could see the two programs meet for a third time.

Up Next:

Madison College (18-10, 2-4) will close out the regular season with three matches away from home, starting Thursday with another key Region 4 contest at Harper College (14-24, 3-4). The WolfPack swept the Hawks 3-0 in Madison on October 4, and have won two of the last three get-togethers. The all-time series favors Harper College by a narrow 20-19 margin. First serve in Palatine, Illinois, is at 6:00 p.m. 

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