Madison College’s volleyball team lost its first conference match in two years, but the squad can still repeat as champion if it wins its final two North Central Community College Conference matches.

No. 7 Harper College defeated the top-ranked WolfPack, 3-1, on Oct. 9 in Palatine, Ill. The loss put Madison College’s conference record at 9-1, while Harper College and Rock Valley College both sit at 7-2.

With a one-game advantage in the loss column, all Madison College needs to do to win the conference outright is defeat Triton College on Oct. 14 and Milwaukee Area Technical College on Oct. 16. Just one win would ensure the WolfPack a share of the conference crown.

Against Harper College, the WolfPack fell behind early, losing the first game 25-23 and the second game 25-18. They rebounded to take the third game, 25-12, but fell in the fourth game, 25-19, to lose the match.

Katlyn Wirag led the WolfPack with 15 kills, while Hannah Grahn had five assists. Sydney Clarson led the team with 23 digs, while Allie Lehner added six blocks.

The last time Madison College lost a conference match was in 2012, when it lost twice to Harper College.

Madison College also faced a huge challenge in its previous conference game, prevailing against 10th-ranked Rock Valley College in a rare five-set match, 3-2, on Oct. 7.

The WolfPack fought back-and-forth with Rock Valley. They lost the first game, 25-21, won the second, 25-19, and lost the third, 25-22. But the finished strong, winning the finale two games, 25-21 and 15-4, to take the match.

Wirag had 15 kills and three aces, while Grahn had 46 assists to lead Madison College. On defense, Clarson had 30 digs, while Mikayla Nigl added four blocks.