OAK CREEK, Wis. — The Milwaukee Area Technical College women's volleyball team closed its opening homestand in authoritative fashion Saturday afternoon, sweeping Oakton College 3–0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-16) to move to 4–0 on the season and finish the Stormer Invitational without dropping a set.

The schedule shifted after MATC's morning match against Triton College was canceled, but the Stormers handled the disruption with ease. Oakton played Triton at noon, and MATC followed with its originally scheduled match at 2 p.m., delivering a composed, balanced performance that underscored the team's early‑season momentum.

"I'm happy with the 3–0 sweep, as it gives us more information heading into what's probably our hardest tournament of the season next weekend," head coach Shel DeLisle said.

MATC controlled the opening set by leaning on its depth across the front line. Freshmen Onyx Burdette and Ella Azbell, along with sophomore Kayleah Laughlin, supplied early offense as the Stormers built a small cushion. Each time Oakton closed the gap, MATC found an answer. The gap widened most notably through sophomore middle Natalia Farrugia, who scored in rhythm and steadied the attack during a key mid‑set stretch. Laughlin then closed the frame with two decisive swings, giving MATC the first set and establishing the match's early tone.

The second set settled into a tight, possession‑driven rhythm, with neither side able to create more than three points of separation until the closing moments. When the frame reached a 19–19 deadlock, MATC finally asserted control. Laughlin jump‑started the closing push with a sharp ace, and the Stormers followed with a string of poised, varied plays that included a tip from Isabella Bloom, a clean kill from Farrugia, an Oakton attack error, and another ace by Laughlin that widened the margin. Burdette then finished the set with a composed dump on a long rally, punctuating a 6–0 run that showcased MATC's ability to close with discipline and pressure.

"I think before we were tied 19–19, we were a little nervous," Burdette said. "But we came together and had more energy on the court. It [our uptick in energy] just helped us play better."

By the third set, MATC's depth and conditioning began to separate the teams. Farrugia continued to score efficiently, Lydia Johnson steadied the back row and added a momentum‑shifting ace, and the attacking trio of Laughlin, Burdette and Bloom overwhelmed Oakton with repeated swings in transition. A dominant mid‑set surge carried the Stormers from an 11–9 lead to a commanding 23–11 advantage before they controlled the final points to finish the sweep and complete a perfect homestand.

"I think we just started to place the ball better in that third set instead of just attacking randomly," Burdette said.

The victory marked MATC's fourth straight win to open the 2026 season, reinforcing a crisp, confident start for a roster blending veteran steadiness with an impactful freshman class.

"What impressed me most today was Ella Azbell," coach DeLisle said. "She's hitting so positively, and her kills are back‑row kills, which is unusual. To have the ability to score from anywhere on the court, she gives us that. I'm really impressed with her serve‑receive, her ability to dig and cover, and then her ability to terminate from the back row."

STAT BOOK
Hope Martens steered the offense with 24 assists, while Laughlin led the attack with 12 kills and a .226 hitting percentage. Farrugia paced all hitters in efficiency at .417 with six kills. Johnson added three service aces as MATC totaled eight on the afternoon, and freshman defensive specialist Aubrey Schwent anchored the back row with 13 digs. At the net, Bloom, Laughlin and Olivia Graves each recorded one block to pace the Stormers' front‑line defense.

UP NEXT
MATC (4-0) now turns to a demanding stretch of road play, beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Harper College. After that, the Stormers travel to Normal, Ill., for the Heartland Invitational, a weekend that includes a matchup with Heartland Community College, the No. 1 team in the nation in the 2026 NJCAA Division II preseason poll. The tournament also features Parkland, Lincoln Land and Danville Area, giving MATC one of its toughest tests of the season.