NORMAL, ILL. - The Madison College women's volleyball team knew it was in for a stiff test Friday and Saturday at the Heartland Community College Tournament, and when the weekend concluded, the WolfPack had survived with a 2-2 record that included a win over a region rival. Entering the tournament ranked #8 in the NJCAA Division II Poll and riding a nine-match win streak, the WolfPack suffered a three-set loss to the Vols before rebounding with their first five-set win of the season, taking down Region 4 rival Rock Valley College. Saturday's slate opened with 3-0 victory against North Iowa Area Community College. and closed with a 3-0 loss to #5 Parkland College.

Match #1 (Friday): John A. Logan College 3, #8 Madison College 0 (25-16, 31-29, 25-12)

The WolfPack offense was slow to find its footing in the opening set, amassing just four kills and posting five hitting errors en route to a -.036 attack percentage and a nine-point setback. An epic and pivotal second set saw the Pack rack up 13 kills and nearly overcome a dozen hitting errors as they fell just short in extra points by a 31-29 tally. A 13-point loss in the third set featured seven kills and attack errors to give Madison College a match total of 24 kills and 24 errors. Additionally, the WolfPack registered a season-low four aces.

Freshman Courtney Gorum led the offense with ten kills on 30 swings as she hit at a .167 clip. The native of Chesapeake, Virginia, also tallied an ace, one block, and eight digs.

Sophomore Gabby Hack was second with six kills and a team-best .333 hitting percentage. Setter Daryn Schaefer collected 21 assists and one ace. Libero Kendall Weisensel keyed the defense with 13 digs, followed by 11 from freshman Addyson McHugh.

The setback evens the all-time series with NJCAA Division I John A. Logan College (10-2) to 2-2.

Match #2 (Friday): #8 Madison College 3, (RV) Rock Valley College 2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-7)

The day's second match marked the 74th all-time meeting between Region 4 rivals Madison College and Rock Valley College (12-3), who were receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division II Poll. As the offense began to find a groove, the WolfPack was able to ride a season-high-tying 11.0 blocks and 57 digs to a hard-fought win in five sets. Madison used a match-best ten kills to claim the opening set, and regained a two-sets-to-one edge after a resounding 25-14 decision in the third set. The Golden Eagles answered in the fourth to force a decisive fifth set, which the Pack controlled by a 15-7 margin in just it's third fifth set of the year.

Madison College finished with 34 kills and 24 errors for a .084 attack percentage, while forcing 42 attack errors by RVC that added up to a -.059 efficiency. The WolfPack also had ten aces, reaching double-digits for the third time this season.

Courtney Gorum posted 15 kills and a .242 attack percentage. The 6'3" transfer from UW-Madison also dominated the net defensively with a career-high six blocks.

Freshman Addyson McHugh, an outside hitter/middle blocker from Spring Grove, Minnesota, filled the stat sheet with eight kills, a team-best 13 digs, two aces, and a pair of blocks.

Daryn Schaefer registered 34 assists, an ace, and a block. Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, natives Kendall Weisensel and Tyra Anderson led the team with 13 digs and three aces, respectively.

The victory snapped a five-match losing streak against RVC, and is the WolfPack's third win in the last 11 meetings.

Match #3 (Saturday): #8 Madison College 3, North Iowa Area Community College 2 (25-12, 25-16, 25-18)

Madison College was firing on all cylinders for Saturday's first match against the Trojans. The WolfPack averaged 13.0 kills per set and registered a .310 hitting percentage, their highest efficiency since a .414 effort against Triton College on September 1. 

Courtney Gorum reached 20 kills for the second time this season and hit a career-high .472 with just three attack errors on 35 attempts. She also added eight digs. 

Also in double-figures at the net was Addyson McHugh, who racked up 11 kills and hit at a .304 clip. The outside hitter/middle blocker nearly had a double-double with nine digs.

Daryn Schaefer, the second year setter from Mazomanie, Wisconsin, directed the offense with 38 assists and two aces. She earned her second double-double this fall with a dozen digs.

Kendall Weisensel also had 12 digs, and was tops at the service line with three aces to help the WolfPack even the all-time series with NIACC (8-11) to a 4-4 tally.

Match #4 (Saturday): #5 Parkland College 3, #8 Madison College 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-18)

The weekend's final match was a top-ten showdown against the #5-ranked Cobras (22-3). The two teams went swing for swing in the opening set, which Parkland College won by three despite the WolfPack posting 16 kills. The Cobras maintained the momentum en route to wins in sets two and three for the sweep.

Madison College had 33 total kills, but struggled in the serve received with 14 aces served up by Parkland College.

Courtney Gorum reached double-figure kills for the fourth consecutive match with 12 and hit .257. Addyson McHugh added nine kills, while Tyra Anderson finished with seven and a .263 efficiency. Anderson also had three of the team's four aces.

Daryn Schaefer tallied 29 assists and three kills. Kendall Weisensel had 14 digs, followed by 13 from McHugh.

The result fives Parkland College a 4-1 edge in the all-time series.

Up Next:

Madison College (11-3) is back on the home court for the first time since September 1 when they host the seven-team Madison College Volleyball Tournament on Friday and Saturday, September 22-23 inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. The WolfPack will open at 2:00 p.m. against Lincoln Land Community College (9-4), followed by a 6:00 p.m. first serve against Minnesota West Community & Technical College (13-3). Saturday's action includes an 11:00 a.m. match with the Lakeland University JV, and ends against Spoon River College (6-15) at 3:00 p.m. In head-to-head meetings, Madison College is 0-2 against the Loggers, 7-1 against the Lady Jays, and 11-0 against the Muskies. The WolfPack has never played the Snappers.

The tournament field also includes Bryant & Stratton College (2-7) and Milwaukee Area Technical College (10-7).

All matches will stream live at MadisonCollege.TV.

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