ROCKFORD, ILL. - Friday's Rock Valley College Triangular saw Madison College come away with two impressive wins in Region 4 play as they took down the host Golden Eagles and the College of DuPage by 3-1 scores. The opening match pitted two teams ranked in the NJCAA Division II Poll in a rematch of last season's Region 4 title game, and in the end, the #25 WolfPack earned a 24-26, 27-25, 31-29, 25-20 decision over the #18 Golden Eagles. The Pack immediately followed with a 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-14 victory against the Chaparrals.

Match #1: #25 Madison College 3, #18 Rock Valley College 1 (24-26, 27-25, 31-29, 25-20)

As evidenced by three of the four sets requiring extra points to be decided, Madison College and Rock Valley College (23-11) put together a very tightly contested four sets. The Golden Eagles led the first set 11-4; however, the WolfPack later put together an 11-0 run to take a 22-16 lead. That surge started with a pair of MaKayla Weisner kills and ended with blocks by Weisner and Addyson McHugh. Unfortunately, the set was not over as RVC rallied with three consecutive points to hold off set point by the Pack and claim the opening set for themselves.

Set number two had the Golden Eagles on top 21-15 before Courtney Gorum terminated back-to-back kills to ignite an 8-2 run and tie the score at 23-23. After overcoming a RVC set point with a McHugh kill, the sophomore sandwiched two more kills around a successful attack from Weisner to win the set 27-25.

The third set was an epic back-and-forth struggle. Rock Valley College held set point at 24-21 until three consecutive points that included a Tricia Klum setter dump and a Horn kill evened the score at 24-24. The Golden Eagles failed on three more set points before the WolfPack had a crack at two consecutive set points before sophomore Mackenzie Thom came through with a set-winning ace at 31-29. In all, the Pack withstood six set points by the opposition.

Madison College made sure the match did not reach a decisive fifth set by taking control of the fourth set midway through. Tied 11-11, the WolfPack used a Gorum kill to start a 5-0 run that also included a block by Weisner, an ace from Gorum, and a kill by McHugh. The lead did narrow to as close as two before the Pack closed out the match with three straight points on a Weisner kill, Kate Howe block, and a Gorum ace.

For the match, Madison College racked up 48 kills, reaching 12 or more in the final three sets. They also set a season-best mark with 13 blocks, to go along with eight aces and 82 digs.

Three players reached double-figures in kills, led by Gorum's 15 on a .263 hitting percentage. The second year outside hitter and middle blocker completed her 12th double-double with a career-best 30 digs, while also contributing season-high-tying four aces and a block. McHugh, a native of Spring Grove, Minnesota, had a dozen kills and ten digs for her fourth double-double, three of which have come of the last four matches. And Weisner terminated ten kills with a .265 attack percentage, and also tied for team-high honors with four blocks. The first year player from Mosinee, Wisconsin, now boasts two double-digit kills performances this season.

Setters Brooke Anderson and Tricia Klum split the workload with 26 and 18 assists, respectively. Anderson also had 11 digs and two aces for her seventh double-double.

Madison College trails the all-time series with RVC by a 30-46-1 count.



Match #2: #25 Madison College 3, College of DuPage 1 (25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-14)

The day's second match may not have provided as much drama; however, it still featured some tremendously competitive volleyball. After opening with a 4-0 start, the WolfPack eventually trailed the College of DuPage (16-14) by a 14-10 margin in the opening set. They eventually pulled even at 17-17 before finishing with an 8-3 push highlighted by a block and kill from freshman Bella Vitaioli and an kill by Courtney Gorum for the 25th point.

An 8-0 surge midway through the second set gave the WolfPack a 16-7 lead after an Amber Horn ace. The advantage peaked at ten when freshman Kate Howe hammered home a kill to make it 20-10 as the Pack cruised to a two-sets-to-none lead. 

Madison College led by five fairly late in the third as they eyed a sweep, but their 18-13 differential quickly turned as the Chaparrals put together a 12-4 rally to force a fourth set. The final set saw Howe deliver back-to-back aces to spark a quick 6-0 en route to building an 11-point lead at 21-10 following another ace by setter Tricia Klum. Side out volleyball from that point on sealed the win to give the WolfPack a 32-13 edge in the head-to-head series.

Gorum led all players with 15 kills and 15 digs, giving her 13 double-doubles this fall. She also posted a .344 hitting percentage, an ace, and a block. Howe, a middle blocker and right side hitter from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, set career-bests with six kills and three aces. 

Klum, a former Westby HS athlete, was tops with 25 assists for her sixth match this fall with 20 or more. She also served up three aces. And fellow setter Brooke Anderson contributed 21 helpers.

Horn's stat line included four kills, three aces, and two blocks. Sophomore libero MacKenzie Thom had 11 digs.

Madison College posted 49 kills, 13 aces, ten blocks, and 66 digs. They now claim 11 matches with double-figure aces and four with ten or more blocks.

Up Next:

Madison College (16-10) wraps up Region 4 competition on Monday, October 21 with a match against South Suburban College (12-15). The WolfPack is 2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs, with both victories coming over the past three years. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. inside H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium and can be live streamed at MadisonCollege.TV.

Madison College will also celebrate Sophomore Night on Monday with a pre-match ceremony to recognize the seven-member Sophomore Class of 2024.

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