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Posted: Nov 19, 2024

Milwaukee, Sandburg survive wild Region 4 Tournaments

Milwaukee, Sandburg survive wild Region 4 Tournaments

MADISON, WISC. - The 2024 edition of the Region 4 Division II Districts A & B Women's Volleyball Tournament was a battle of endurance with five of the six matches going a full five sets and four ending with upset wins based on seedings. In the end, Milwaukee Area Technical College won its first region title by taking the District A bracket and Carl Sandburg College earned its fourth region crown. Shel DeLisle of the Stormers and Todd Winkler of the Chargers were awarded Region 4 Coach of the Year honors.

Milwaukee Tech achieved many firsts this season, including seeing themselves ranked in the NJCAA Division II Poll for the first time in program history. The #5-seeded Stormers opened postseason play with a 3-1 quarterfinal win over #12-seed Harper College to join the eight team party at Madison College. MATC-Milwaukee traded sets with #4-seeded McHenry County College in the semifinals before holding off the Scots with a 15-11 win in the decisive fifth set, advancing to the championship round. In a showdown with top-seeded Sauk Valley Community College, the Stormers sent an early message with a 25-23 win in set one, but then had to fight to avoid elimination in the fourth set. The 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 10-25, 25-20, 15-12) win would come as a result of a 15-12 victory in the fifth set over the Skyhawks (31-8). Savannah Raymer led the Stormers with 13 kills, followed by ten each from Sam Siehr and Rachel Krueger. Avery Brieske and Hannah Council had 26 and 20 assists, respectively. Kimberly Busateri led the scrappy defensive effort with 32 of the team's 92 digs. (Recap: Milwaukee)

Carl Sandburg College began the postseason as the #7 seed and swept #10-seed Highland Community College to reach the semifinals. Despite dropping the opening set, the Chargers then eliminated the host and #2-seeded WolfPack in the weekend's lone four-set match to set up a showdown with #3-seeded Moraine Valley Community College. The championship match was back-and-forth until Sandburg ended the Cyclones (24-6) season with a 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-10) decision en route to earning their fourth title in the last nine years. Taylor Wagner posted a team-high 19 kills, to go along with 11 digs, while Natalie Burden racked up 15 kills and 12 digs. Setter Grace Vyhnanek registered 44 assists, and Madeline Mooney was tops with 24 digs. (Recap: Sandburg)

The 2024 NJCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, run November 20-23. Milwaukee Area Technical College (33-6) was awarded the tournament's #17 seed and plays a first round game on Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m. against #16-seed and undefeated Harford Community College (22-0). The winner advances to the second round to face top-seeded and defending national champion Cowley College (36-0) later that night, while the loser begins consolation play on Thursday. Carl Sandburg College (35-10) also plays a first round game on Wednesday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m. as the #19-seeded Chargers take on Walters State Community College (26-5). The winner gets a second round meeting with #3-seed Kirkwood Community College (34-6) later that night and the loser drops in to the consolation bracket starting on Thursday. 

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