Badgers upset Plainsmen, jockey for postseason contention

An all too familiar dilemma arose during Saturday's match against Frank Phillips College for the Badger volleyball team.

After convincingly winning the first set, Amarillo College faced a 24-23 deficit in the second set – a scenario that rarely played in the Badgers favor during their 2023 campaign.

On Saturday, Amarillo College changed that narrative and swept the Plainsmen (25-15, 26-24, 25-21).

"We were very composed and showed some grit in that second set," Amarillo College head coach Scott Sandel said. "Our effort was great and we maintained our focus throughout the match."

To close out the second set, sophomore setter Carli Colbert recorded a block to take a 25-24 lead and Jaron McAden dished out a service ace – one of three during the match – to give the Badgers a 2-0 lead.

Amarillo native and sophomore Madison Kellogg had arguably her best performance of the season considering the implications of Saturday's match. The Badgers needed a victory to stay in postseason contention in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, Kellogg's effort ensured just that.

The 5-foot-8 outside hitter put down a team-high 13 kills via a .375 hitting percentage. The rate is the third-highest mark of the season for the Amarillo High graduate.

"She showed tremendous improvement and was playing really smart volleyball," Sandel added.

Amarillo College recorded their third-best hitting percentage as a team this season (.272) as four Badgers ended the match with marks higher than .350.

Addison McLain continued her emergence as a starter with seven kills via a .357 hitting percentage and McAden was second on the team in kills with nine. Her .444 hitting percentage marked the fifth contest the Abilene native concluded a match with .400 kill rate or higher.

The Badgers tallied 11 aces as a team – their best mark in conference play and third-highest overall – led by a trio of athletes who recorded three apiece (Taylor Irving, Rachel Russell, McAden).

Amarillo College vaulted from seventh place in the WJCAC standings to a three-way tie for fifth place, along with Western Texas College and Frank Phillips College. The trio of teams have 2-4 conference records.

Midland College, who sits in the fourth and final playoff spot currently, has a 3-3 WJCAC record.

The Badgers end their first round of conference play on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at New Mexico Junior College. AC's next home game will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. against No. 7 New Mexico Military Institute.