MADISON, WISC. - Fans of Madison College volleyball got their first look at the 2022 team Wednesday night with the home opener against Morton College inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium, and what they saw was a gritty and tough performance after a rough start. The WolfPack was able to defeat the visiting Panthers by a 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22) count in the first-ever matchup of Region 4 programs. Madison College racked up a season-high 73 digs, with four players amassing double-digit digs, including setter/right side Daryn Schaefer en route to a double-double.

The match did not start well for Madison College, as visiting Morton College (3-2) raced out to a 9-1 lead. The WolfPack rebounded to earn ten of the next 14 points to close with 13-11. A four-point run highlighted by a pair of Mariah Best aces as the Pack surged to a 21-19 advantage and hung on for the first set win.

The Panthers again held an early lead in the second set, going up 9-3 and maintaining a half-dozen point lead to even the match at a set apiece. The critical third set featured a faster start for Madison College, owning an 8-4 edge that grew to 17-9. Morton College narrowed the gap to 22-19 before a Schaefer kill the barely crept over the top of the net before falling to the crown turn the tide back to the WolfPack.

A back-and-forth fourth set turned with a four-point rally that reversed an 18-16 Panthers lead into a 20-18 Pack advantage. Morton College was never able get closer than a two-point differential over the final nine points.

Freshman middle blocker MacKenzie Plunkett led Madison College with a career-high 14 kills and zero attack errors as she stacked up a .667 hitting percentage, and the McFarland, WIsconsin, native did most of her damage over the final two sets. Fellow first year Tyra Anderson was the only other WolfPack hitter with double-digit kills, posting a dozen kills on a .286 efficiency. Gabby had tallied nine kills, and a team-best four kills. As a team, Madison College posted 46 kills and hit at a .186 clip.

Setters Schaefer and Mariah Best accumulated 24 and 20 assists, respectively. Best also led the team with three aces.

The real difference in the match was found along the back row, with libero Katie Wagner's 16 digs leading the effort. Kendall Weisensel collected 13 and Aubrie Kappes had ten, while Schaefer amassed 12 to complete her second double-double of the young season.

Up Next:

Madison College (3-2) is back in tournament play this coming weekend with four matches at the College of DuPage Chaparral Invite in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The WolfPack will open on Friday, August 26 against Genesee Community College (NY/0-0) at 2:00 p.m. followed by Century College (MN/0-0) at 4:00 p.m. Day two on Saturday features matches against #7-ranked Finger Lakes Community College (NY/0-1) at 10:00 a.m. and St. Cloud Technical College (MN/2-0) at 12:00 p.m. This weekend's matches will mark the first all-time against the Cougars, Wood Ducks, and Lakers. Madison College lost its only prior meeting with the Cyclones in 2019 at the same tournament.

Follow WolfPack volleyball: Facebook | Twitter