MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Behind a resilient team effort and a strong all-around performance from freshman middle blocker Dorothy Hoagland, the Milwaukee Area Technical College women's volleyball team returned to the win column Friday night with a 3-1 victory over College of Lake County (25-22, 24-26, 25-12, 25-19) at Reiman Gymnasium.

The victory snapped a four-match losing streak, improved the Stormers to 17-11 overall and 7-2 at home, and completed a season sweep of the Lancers after MATC earned another 3-1 victory Sept. 19 in Grayslake, Illinois.

Hoagland made her presence felt throughout the match, finishing with four service aces, seven total blocks and several momentum-shifting plays at the net.

"I think I had some good blocks and serves, but I feel overall I just played an all-around game," Hoagland said. "Since I'm a middle, I'm used to doing middle things, but today I feel like my all-around game was strong, which I'm proud of."

The performance came at an important time for the Stormers, who entered the match looking to bounce back from a straight-set loss Wednesday at No. 21 Rock Valley College.

With head coach Shel DeLisle unavailable, assistant coach Colleen DeLisle assumed head coaching duties and helped guide MATC through a pivotal Region 4 victory.

"It was a bit nerve-racking," DeLisle said. "I have some big shoes to fill and still a lot to learn to become that head coach, but it's exciting. We were missing the presence of Coach Shel, but the girls did a great job supporting us as a coaching staff and helping fill in those gaps."

The Stormers also used Friday's match as an opportunity to reset after what they felt was a disappointing performance earlier in the week.

"I think Wednesday was a little bit of an eye-opener for us," DeLisle said. "We didn't come to the match against Rock Valley with our best intentions or our best foot forward. Today, win or lose, our goal was to play better as a team than we did on Wednesday, and I think we did exactly that."

College of Lake County tested MATC early in the opening set, erasing an early deficit and forcing multiple ties before briefly taking the lead. The Stormers responded by settling into a steady rhythm and weathering several Lancer rallies. An ace from Onyx Burdette helped shift momentum midway through the set, and after the teams battled to a 22-22 deadlock, MATC capitalized on a Lancer error and a kill from Natalia Farrugia to move within a point of the set. Bella Bloom sealed the 25-22 win with a set-ending tip.

The second set proved to be the night's turning point. Neither team led by more than two points early before the Lancers used a 8-2 run midway through the frame to create separation. MATC trailed by eight points at 20-12 before mounting a spirited comeback sparked by four late kills from Kayleah Laughlin. Burdette's setter dump tied the score at 23-23, but College of Lake County countered with back-to-back aces to escape with a 26-24 victory and even the match.

"We have the determination, the grit and the powerhouse hitters that we usually turn to in those moments," DeLisle said. "But during that run when we were down eight points, almost everybody was contributing. Instead of relying on a few players, everyone stepped up. Everybody rose to the occasion and showed grit."

The Stormers took complete control after the break.

Using an early 7-0 run to pull them ahead 13-3, MATC quickly transformed a competitive set into a runaway third-set victory. Hoagland supplied multiple key blocks as well as a tip kill during the surge, while the Stormers repeatedly disrupted the Lancers at the net and forced them out of system. The result was a dominant 25-12 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.

"Hoagland is a heck of a player," DeLisle said. "When she's on, she's really on, and we really used her big presence in the middle tonight. She was watching the ball like a hawk, and when it was coming over, she was our first line of defense. She looked really confident out there."

MATC carried that momentum into the fourth set. The Stormers established an early cushion and never relinquished control, thanks in large part to the play of Annika Romine, who recorded six of her nine kills in the final frame. Hoagland added consecutive aces during a decisive stretch that expanded the lead to 13-7. Although the Lancers remained within striking distance, MATC maintained its composure and closed out the match with a balanced offensive attack and steady defensive play.

STAT BOOK

Laughlin paced the Stormers with 17 kills while hitting .325 and adding two aces, four digs and three total blocks. Farrugia contributed eight kills and two block assists, while Romine delivered one of her most efficient performances of the season with nine kills and a .444 hitting percentage.

Hoagland anchored the middle with four aces, two solo blocks and five block assists while helping fuel MATC's defensive effort at the net.

"I've grown so much and feel so much more comfortable than I did at the beginning of the season," Hoagland said. "I love this team so much, and I'm so happy to be playing here. I'm excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us."

At setter, Hope Martens and Burdette directed a balanced offense with 17 and 18 assists, respectively. Martens also posted a double-double with 11 digs. Defensively, liberos Aubrey Schwent and Lydia Johnson led the back row with 15 digs apiece.

The victory gives MATC renewed momentum entering one of its toughest remaining regular-season tests as the Stormers continue their push toward postseason play.

UP NEXT

MATC (17-11) hosts No. 13 Madison College at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Reiman Gymnasium.