The storylines are bountiful and optimistic as the Madison College women's volleyball team embarks on the 2023 season. It's year two under coach Mallory (Dixon) Stone following a 20-win debut campaign. It's year number one as a NJCAA Division II program with a reformatted schedule. There are five returning players, including a trio of all-region recipients. And there's a talented set of newcomers highlighted by a former Top-50 high school recruit seeking a second chance a athletic glory after an injury plagued run with a national championship-caliber NCAA Division I program.

The alarm clocks will be out in full force for Madison College as coach Stone and company roll out of bed for a 9:00 a.m. season opener August 18 against Des Moines Area Community College at the McHenry County College Opening Weekend Tournament. The rest of the tournament will see the Pack squaring off with two teams ranked in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll when they play #11 Illinois Central College at 11:00 a.m. and then #7 Iowa Central Community College at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.

In all, Madison College is slated to play six teams currently ranked during their 2023 schedule. The WolfPack will see #3 Parkland College on September 16 and 30, #12 Heartland Community College on September 16 and October 20, #17 Rock Valley College on September 15 and October 14, and NJCAA Division III Preseason #1 and defending national champion College of DuPage on the Chaparrals home floor on October 14.

Potentially adding even more difficulty to the season is a schedule that features only four matches being played outside of a multi-team event. The WolfPack are involved in nine such tournaments, quads, or triangulars. Madison College will host a few, as well, welcoming triangulars on August 23 and September 1, a quad on October 20, and a two-day tournament on September 22-23 inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Madison College will also serve as the host venue for the NJCAA Region 4 Division II Midwest District Tournaments on November 4-5.

Sophomores Daryn Schaefer, Gabby Hack, Kendall Weisensel, Tyra Anderson, and Sophia Venne will try to build on their successful freshman seasons. Hack, a middle blocker/outside hitter, Schaefer, a setter, and Weisensel, a libero/outside hitter, were each named First Team All-Region 4 in 2022. Hack posted 82.0 blocks on the season and was third in kills. Schaefer's 7.37 assists per set, and Weisensel racked up a team-high 391 digs and a shattered the school-record for aces in a season with 83. Anderson and Venne were key contributors, as well, with Anderson finished first on the team with 257 kills.

"We are excited to be returning so many players who played a key role in our success last year," stated Stone. "They will bring great experience and great leadership as we continue to grow this year."

The 2023 season will mark the WolfPack's first with a second year head coach that guided the program through a true competitive schedule the previous season since 2016. Not only is Stone eyeing some stability for her program, but the former Wisconsin Badger is hoping one of her former teammates turned assistant coach can spring the program back to national prominence with a return to her playing career.

Courtney Gorum, a 6'3" middle blocker/right side, will play in a collegiate volleyball match for Madison College, a feat she was unable to do during two seasons downtown at the University of Wisconsin. The itch to play again began to build as Gorum served as an assistant coach for the WolfPack last fall, ultimately leading to a decision to return to further her education and take another crack at playing. 

Filling the rest of the 2023 roster are six additional newcomers. Through preseason camp outside hitter/middle blocker Addyson McHugh, middle blocker Amber Horn, and setter Hope Hesselberg have made their impacts felt.

"This incoming class will bring in a lot of new faces who have played at really high levels throughout their careers. We expect for them to have an immediate impact and to help elevate the level of our gym."

Madison College was one of the top serving teams in the nation last year, but struggled at times with serve receive and ball control. Coach Stone lists "establishing great ball control early on" as a weakness heading into the season. Should the WolfPack find those answers and fit the right pieces together, Stone says winning the region and advancing to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are viable goals.

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