Sweep Complete over Delta College as Volleyball Secures #2 in the MCCAA North
University Center, MI – The Timberwolves (19-6, 9-2) swept Delta College (13-13, 5-6) for the second time this season in route to locking in the number two finish in the MCCAA Northern Conference. With this win North Central has clinched their playoff seed and bracket as the #2 North for the NJCAA Region XII Great Lakes District A tournament.
Set Scores: 25-19, 29-27, 25-12
Delta College came out swinging for the chance to get redemption but the composure and confidence of the Timberwolves allowed the squad to control much of the first set.
In the second set NCMC fell into a bit of a hole and some early timeouts by Coach Flippin allowed for adjustments to be made and the Timberwolves to fight back. With the score 19-23 – in favor of the Pioneers – the Timberwolves trusted their skills and training in this critical moment. Ava Wendel (Traverse City/TC Christian) stepped up to serve and delivered her 39th ace of the season (66th of her career). In the next play Chloe Winchell (Freeland/Freeland) put away a kill forcing a Delta timeout, the score now 21-23. Delta would get a side-out and the serve; the Timberwolves down 21-24. Winchell would strike again and with the rotation Taylor Hafeman (Gering, NE/Scottsbluff) would be next up to serve. An error from Delta would bring North Central to 23-24 and Delta would take their final time out as they desperately tried to hold on to the lead and take the set. Coming out of the timeout Hafeman had other plans as she laid down a powerful ace to tie it up. The teams would trade points back and forth with two more Winchell kills – followed by two Delta points. A long rally would be put away by a perfectly placed strike by Eve Cheney (Rudyard/Rudyard) before fellow Yooper, Lindsey Hill (Brimley/Brimley) would serve up an ace. The Timberwolves finished off the come from behind to win the second set in extra points.
North Central took the momentum of the second set into the third as they controlled much of the match.
The three set sweep tonight marks the 60th set win on the season for the Timberwolves. It also brings the all-time record vs Delta College to 3-3 with two of those wins being this season sweeps.
Statistical Leaders
- Winchell broke the school record for most kills in any length match with 21! This is three more than the previous record held by Winchell. These 21 kills came on a night of impressive hitting with a .500 hitting percentage.
- Laken LeBaron (Freeland/Freeland) dished up 34 assists to be the new record for most assists in a three-set match.
- Camille Wardin (Saginaw/Nouvel Catholic Central) recorded one solo block and one block assist and added 5 kills. She currently has 30 career block assists and leads in all time blocks.
- Mya Collino (Cheboygan/Cheboygan) who holds all the single season blocking records had 4 block assists tonight along with her 4 kills on 6 attempts with 0 errors.
- Wendel still leads in most career points and crossed the 400 point threshold – she currently has 402.5 points.
Up Next
North Central will honor their sophomores at the final home game of the season on Friday, October 25th when they host Montcalm Community College.
Following Friday’s match they will have some time off to refresh and prepare for the post-season tournament. They will need to be patient as the rest of regular season completes before learning who will be their first opponent for the NJCAA Region XII Great Lakes District A tournament.