GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Day one of the GRCC Raider Challenge resulted in a split for Macomb Volleyball as the Monarchs won the opener in three sets over Lansing Community College before falling in the nightcap to Waubonsee Community College (Ill.) in a hard-fought three set contest.

MATCH ONE: Macomb 3, Lansing 0 (27-25, 26-24, 25-20)

A pair of gritty wins in the first two sets propelled a determined Macomb Volleyball team over Lansing Community College in straight sets, 27-25, 26-24 and 25-20. The three-set sweep lifted the Monarchs record to 8-5 overall and marked the program's first win over a member of the MCCAA Western Conference since Sept. 30, 2017 (a four-set win over Kalamazoo Valley Community College).

Natalie Husson (Marysville, Mich./Marysville) was her efficient self once again as the freshman led the Monarchs with 12 kills on 23 attempts for a team-high .348 hitting percentage. Ja'Nae Davis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Godwin Heights) and Kara Lewicki (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) had nine kills each, while Erika Knieper (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) recorded seven kills of her own.

Khloee Stoll (Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) led the defensive charge with 28 digs, while Samantha Olson (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) put forth an impressive effort with a career-high 16 digs and Juliana Bollini (Washington, Mich./Romeo) reached double-digit digs for the eighth consecutive match (ninth time this season) with 12.

Emily Langlois (Macomb, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) set up the attack with 30 assists, adding seven digs, while Haley Link (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) accounted for three digs and a kill in the 3-0 sweep for the Monarchs.

MATCH TWO: Waubonsee 3, Macomb 0 (20-25, 23-25, 24-26)

After winning their first match of the day, the Monarchs ran into a tough Waubonsee squad and narrowly lost in three sets by set scores of 20-25, 23-25 and 24-26. The loss drops the Monarchs record to 8-6 overall heading into day two of the Raider Challenge.

Against Waubonsee, the Monarchs were led by the tandem of Ja'Nae Davis and Erika Knieper who posted nine kills each, while Natalie Husson followed with eight kills and three block assists. Khloee Stoll paced the defense with 36 digs and Juliana Bollini set a new career-best with 20 digs in the non-conference setback.