CICERO, Ill. — The Milwaukee Area Technical College women's volleyball team wrapped up its regular season Sunday with losses to No. 5 Parkland College and host Morton College at the Morton College Tri-Meet. Parkland swept the Stormers, 25-10, 25-10, 25-16, before Morton handed MATC a 3-1 loss, 25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19.

As a result, MATC concluded the regular season 18-15 and now awaits its postseason assignment in the NJCAA Region 4 tournament.

"It was a disappointing day," head coach Shel DeLisle said. "I had hoped for a better finish, but in the end our bench wasn't deep enough and we just couldn't pull it off. Parkland is always a strong team, and Morton has been having a heck of a season as well. Now we hope for the best and a playoff match as the region finishes up the season."

MATCH 1: NO. 5 PARKLAND 3, MATC 0
25-10, 25-10, 25-16

The Stormers struggled to find their footing against Parkland, one of the top teams in NJCAA Division II. The Cobras took control early and never let MATC get much going offensively.

Freshman outside hitter Olivia Graves led the Stormers with four kills. Sophomore middle blocker Annika Romine hit .286 to lead the team in hitting percentage, while team captain Hope Martens finished with nine assists and eight digs. Freshman middle blocker Dorothy Hoagland recorded two blocks, and freshman defensive specialist/libero Aubrey Schwent tied Martens for the team lead with nine digs.

"We just couldn't seem to get our offense going," DeLisle said. "The only positive hitters we had were Annika Romine and Olivia Graves, and between the two of them, it just wasn't enough."

MATCH 2: MORTON 3, MATC 1
25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19

MATC responded in the second match, taking the second set to even things up at one set apiece. Morton quickly regained control in the third set and closed out the match in four.

"We would do some really great things on the court and then seem to relax instead of keeping the pressure on," DeLisle said. "In the end, not being able to focus for 25 straight points means not pulling out the win regardless of the great plays."

Sophomore outside hitter Kayleah Laughlin led MATC with eight kills, while freshman outside hitter Isabella Bloom hit .267 for the team's best hitting percentage. Romine finished with six kills and 2.5 blocks. Hoagland added four kills and also recorded 2.5 blocks.

Martens handed out 13 assists, and Laughlin and freshman setter Onyx Burdette each recorded 10 digs. Burdette, Hoagland and sophomore Natalia Farrugia contributed two service aces apiece.

UP NEXT

MATC (18-15) now turns its attention to the postseason and will await the final NJCAA Region 4 tournament bracket to determine its playoff fate.