Cardinals Go 2-2 At Jimmy John's Tournament
The MAC volleyball team recently went 2-2 in the Southeastern Iowa CC Jimmy John's Tournament on Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31.
8/30 - Heartland CC – 3-0 loss
MAC struggled with consistency, particularly in their attacking efficiency. They recorded a total of 28 kills with a .272 hitting percentage but faced challenges in sustaining pressure against Heartland's well-coordinated defense. Gabrielle Damborowiski led her team with 5 kills, while Cheyenne Tonjum contributed significantly with 6 kills and a .750 hitting percentage.
8/30 - Southeastern CC – 3-1 loss
The Cardinals again struggled to get things going on Friday, this time against host Southeastern CC, falling by a final score of 3-1. Gabrielle Damborowiski was notable for her all-around contribution, with 8 kills and 14 digs. Olivia Shaw's eight kills and .583 hitting percentage in the first set were instrumental in getting off to a 1-0 lead.
8/31 – Spoon River CC – 3-0 win
MAC bounced back on Saturday with a pair of wins, starting with their match against Spoon River. The first set was dominated by MAC, with a score of 25-11. In the second set, the Cardinals continued with similar dominance, winning 25-14.
The third set presented a stronger challenge from Spoon River College, who fought hard to close the gap. Despite the effort and a slightly closer score of 25-23, MAC maintained their composure and closed out the match.
Gabrielle Damborowiski was again a standout performer for MAC, contributing with 17 kills out of 28 attempts. Payton Roberts also made significant contributions with eight kills.
On the defensive end, MAC's players were equally impressive. Belen Ferrufino demonstrated exceptional serve receive skills with 18 digs, while Olivia Shaw and Lara Gilardi De Souza added crucial blocks to secure points and disrupt Spoon River's attacks.
8/31 – John Wood CC – 3-1 win
The Cardinals closed out the weekend with a 3-1 win over John Wood CC. The team managed to secure three of the four sets with strong offensive displays. The Cardinals' ability to capitalize on their attacking opportunities and solid defense helped them overcome the Blazers. Key performers for MAC included Lara Gilardi De Souza with 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, while also contributing crucial defensive plays with four blocks. Olivia Shaw had a significant impact, contributing eight kills. Gabrielle Damborowiski again led the offense with 16 kills. Her performance was critical in securing the win for MAC.
The Cardinals will return to action on Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7 when they travel to Vincennes, IN to participate in the Blazer Classic.