MILWAUKEE, WISC. - The Madison College women's volleyball team has been superb in weekend tournament settings in 2022, and that trend continued Saturday with two wins at the Milwaukee Area Technical College Triangular to close out the regular season. The WolfPack needed all five sets to earn a 3-2 win over the host Stormers in a make-up match from October 11, and then swept Bryant & Stratton College 3-0 to improve their tournament record to 15-5 this fall. The two wins give the Pack a 20-11 overall record for the regular season, while the victory over MATC-Milwaukee put the team's final North Central Community College Conference standings at 3-5.

Match #1: Madison College 3, Milwaukee Area Technical College 2 (20-25, 25-19, 25-21, 17-25, 15-10)

Despite 13 kills and  a.244 attack percentage, Madison College took an opening set loss right out of the gates against the rival Stormers, snapping a 77-set win streak in the head-to-head-battle. The WolfPack responded with wins in each of the next two sets, including the third set where the team posted a .304 hitting efficiency. After failing to close out the match in four, the Pack took care of business in the fifth and finished the match with a season-high-tying 49 kills and a .192 percentage. They also amassed nine aces, 53 digs, and 14.0 blocks, a number they have reached in three of their last six matches.

First year middle blocker MacKenzie Plunkett racked up a dozen kills and hit at an impressive .381 clip. The double-digit kills total mark her second such performance of the season, with the first one coming back on August 24. The McFarland, Wisconsin, native's domination at the net also included five blocks, a total she has touched on five occasions. Sophia Venne also had five blocks, to go along with six kills. Gabby Hack finished with nine kills and two blocks.

Freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist Kendall Weisensel earned her third double-double in a row with 11 kills and 11 digs, and fellow outside hitter Tyra Anderson nearly matched her with nine kills and ten digs. The duo also split six aces to pace the Pack.

Daryn Schaefer, a first year setter from Mazomanie, Wisconsin, posted 47 assists and two blocks. Aubrie Kappes was tops in digs with 16.

Madison College has won 39 consecutive matches over Milwaukee Area Technical College (13-16, 1-7), and now boasts a 93-29-3 record in the all-time series.

Match #2: Madison College 3, Bryant & Stratton College 2 (25-18, 31-29, 25-22)

After pulling away in the opening set against the Bobcats, Madison College fought tooth-and-nail to earn the sweep over another in-state rival. The WolfPack registered ten kills and a .167 attack percentage in the second set, which needed 12 additional points to settle. They capped the win hitting .314 and with 15 kills in the final set to reach 34 kills and a .208 efficiency, to go along with eight aces, 11 blocks, and 76 digs, which marks their fourth-highest digs total of the season.

Double-double machine Kendal Weisensel dominated the match with a team-high 13 kills and 21 digs. It's her ninth double-double overall, and her fourth consecutive. Seven different players finished the match with at least one kill.

Setter Daryn Schaefer reached 31 assists and 12 digs for her 11th double-double overall, and third in the last five matches.

Sophomore Aubrie Kappes collected 17 digs, while MacKenzie Plunkett led the block party with four.

Madison College is now 6-1 against Bryant & Stratton College (8-14).

Up Next:

Madison College (20-11) earned the #4 seed in the upcoming 2022 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Tournament, and will open postseason play with a semifinal match at top-seeded College of DuPage (27-3). The Chaparrals are the champions of the N4C and currently ranked #4 in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll. The regular season series saw COD pick up two wins, giving DuPage six wins in the last eight meetings. Madison College still owns a 30-12 lead in the all-time series. The two teams have met six times in the postseason prior to 2022, and Madison College boasts a 5-1 record in those matches. The lone Chaparrals win came in a 2021 semifinal in Madison. First serve is at 6:00 p.m. in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.



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