Chris Kuchta

Women's Volleyball 9/15/2025 12:06:00 PM Chris Kuchta

Pioneers Upend Malcolm X in Straight Sets

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. --- Through three matches of a grueling week which saw it play four times in five days, the Prairie State volleyball team, despite taking all three of its opponents down to the wire, had yet to score a win.

Turns out, the fourth match was the charm.

PSC, fueled by its typically hard-fought effort, broke through with a resounding win over NJCAA Region 4 counterpart Malcolm X Friday night at the PSC Fieldhouse.

The Pioneers downed the Hawks 25-16, 25-20 and 25-13 in front of a boisterous crowd.

With the triumph, the Pioneers pushed their record to 2-7 on the campaign.

Leading the charge for PSC was freshman outside hitter Vitoria Pinho (Metodo Ensino Dirigido H.S., BRAZIL), who hammered down a team-best six kills. She also compiled 12 digs.

Fellow freshman outside hitter Isabelle Flores (AIU H.S, ECUADOR) contributed four kills while freshman middle hitter Nicole Holguin (La Unidad Educativa Particular Billingue Santo Domingo de Guzman H.S, ECUADOR) added another three.

Sophomore setter Samantha De Laurentis (St. Laurence H.S.) handed out 22 assists while freshman libero Michelle Restelli (Instituto de Ciencias H.S., MEXICO) added eight digs as Flores contributed another seven.

Sophomore right side Kaylin Buczkowski (Illiana Christian H.S.), (kill), sophomore middle Odelia Gascon (Hammond Central H.S.), (kill) and freshman defensive specialist Marissa Kraus (Illiana Christian H.S.), (4 digs) all aided the Pioneers' cause.

As had been the theme throughout the week, Friday's sets were all extremely close with both teams exchanging leads throughout.

Back to back kills from Pinho and Gascon gave PSC a 14-11 lead in Game 1 before Holguin put the ball down to make it 18-14 late as the Pioneers never looked back.
Consecutive aces by De Laurentis in the second set gave Prairie State a 14-11 edge. PSC took control of the game for good following a Holguin ace that made it 20-18.

The Pioneers raced out to a 3-0 edge in Game 3 on the heals of a big kill from Pinho.

Prairie State never trailed in the set and built a 9-5 lead thanks to a trio of kills and an ace from Flores.

PSC established a 23-13 lead and closed out the match with another kill and ace by Flores and a kill from Pinho.

The Pioneers will see action next on Monday when they take on Judson College in Elgin at 7 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#2 Kaylin Buczkowski: RS; Sophomore

#16 Samantha De Laurentis: S; Sophomore

#5 Odelia Gascon: MD; Sophomore

#13 Nicole Holguin: M; Freshman

#8 Michelle Restelli: L; Freshman

#9 Isabelle Flores: OH; Freshman

#7 Vitoria Pinho: OH; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Kaylin Buczkowski
: Sophomore
: RS

#16 Samantha De Laurentis
: Sophomore
: S

#5 Odelia Gascon
: Sophomore
: MD

#13 Nicole Holguin
: Freshman
: M

#8 Michelle Restelli
: Freshman
: L

#9 Isabelle Flores
: Freshman
: OH

#7 Vitoria Pinho
: Freshman
: OH

Prairie State College

Pioneers Upend Malcolm X in Straight Sets

Players Mentioned

#2 Kaylin Buczkowski

#16 Samantha De Laurentis

#5 Odelia Gascon

#13 Nicole Holguin

#8 Michelle Restelli

#9 Isabelle Flores

#7 Vitoria Pinho

Players Mentioned

#2 Kaylin Buczkowski

#16 Samantha De Laurentis

#5 Odelia Gascon

#13 Nicole Holguin

#8 Michelle Restelli

#9 Isabelle Flores

#7 Vitoria Pinho

Scoreboard