MAC Finishes 2nd In Region 16, Advances to Midwest District
The Mineral Area College volleyball team recently hosted the Region 16 D1 Volleyball Tournament on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2.
On Saturday, MAC delivered an thrilling performance in their semifinal matchup against Jefferson College, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory. (25-14, 22-25, 21-25, 27-25, 17-15)
MAC had several players stand out in the semifinal win. Lara Gilardi De Souza was particularly impressive, racking up 23 kills on 55 attempts, demonstrating both power and precision at the net.
Amiyah Saxton contributed significantly as well, delivering 12 kills with an outstanding hitting percentage of .462, while Olivia Shaw and Maria Eduarda added vital support with 7 and 10 kills, respectively. The team's collective effort in attack, combining for 61 kills, reflected their offensive strength throughout the match.
The win over Jefferson on Friday propelled the Cardinals into the championship match against #1 seed MSU – West Plains on Saturday. The match was a nail-biter that showcased both teams' skills and determination, ultimately ending in a 3-2 victory for MSU-West Plains.(25-19, 25-22, 16-25, 18-25, 8-15)
MAC's Gabrielle Damborowiski led the Cardinals with 12 kills, while Maria Eduarda added 14 kills.
With the 2nd place finish in Region 16, the Cardinals advance to the Midwest District B Tournament scheduled for Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL. The winner of the Midwest District B will advance to the NJCAA D1 Volleyball Championship at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, TN.
Midwest District B Tournament Schedule: