Badger volleyball sweeps Midland College in high-stakes conference match

Amarillo College needed a victory on Wednesday against Midland College to keep their postseason hopes alive in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.

Despite being without four starters, the Badgers put forth their most dominant performance of the season and avenged a loss to the Lady Chaps 26 days prior.

Amarillo College swept Midland College 25-8, 25-23, 23-11 in what proved to be a serving clinic by the Badgers. Do-it-all sophomore Skylar Rivers recorded six aces, tying Rachel Russell's school record, which was set earlier in the season.

AC ended the match with a season-best 13 aces as a team.

"In game one we served them off the court," Badger head coach Scott Sandel said. "I thought the girls did a really good job. We played good defense and kept in system. As a whole, I thought we had a good night."

In the first set of Wednesday's WJCAC matchup, the Badgers held their opponent to a single-digit point total for the first time this season.

Sophomore outside hitter Madison Kellogg started the match with two aces, followed by a pair of kills by former Dumas standout Abree Elsheimer. The sophomore transfer from Northwestern Oklahoma State University ended the first frame with a team-high four kills, marking one of her most productive sets of the season.

A rejuvenated Lady Chaps squad, who ran sprints between sets one and two, gained a 11-10 lead in the second frame before AC went on a 12-4 run to take a 22-15 advantage.

Midland College ensued with an 8-1 run, tying the second set at 23-23. Sophomore middle blocker Addison McLain recorded a kill and the Lady Chaps had a hitting error to end the frame.

Four Badgers ended the second set with at least two kills, led by McLain's four successful spikes. Elsheimer, Kellogg, and Rivers added two kills apiece.

AC kill leader Jaron McAden had a team-best five kills in set three via a .625 hitting percentage and finished the contest with seven kills, tying Elsheimer for a team-high total.

Freshman setter Ellie Okikawa got her first conference start and the Hawaii native, who graduated from Reagan High in San Antonio, dished out a team-best 16 assists.

Rivers added 15 assists and a team-best 18 digs.

Amarillo College improved their conference record to 3-5 with the win and moved one game back of Midland College in the conference standings.