GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Macomb Volleyball wrapped up an exciting weekend with another split at the GRCC Raider Challenge on Sunday (Oct. 3) in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Monarchs started Sunday with a 3-1 win over Lake Michigan College and ended the two-day event with a hard-fought 3-1 loss to the No. 10 team in the country and host GRCC Raiders.
In the loss to nation's 10th ranked team, the Monarchs became the first team to take a set from the Raiders throughout the weekend and only the fourth team to do so in the past month.
After a pair of splits over the weekend, the Monarchs finished Raider Challenge play with an even 2-2 record with wins over MCCAA Western Conference counterparts Lake Michigan College and Lansing Community College. The Monarchs sit at 9-7 overall and will put their unblemished (3-0) MCCAA Eastern Conference record on the line Tuesday (Oct. 5) when they visit St. Clair County Community College at 7:00 p.m.
MATCH ONE: Macomb 3, Lake Michigan 1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18)
A 46-kill, .310 hitting percentage performance lifted Macomb Volleyball past Lake Michigan College in four sets (25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18) to kick off Sunday's action at the Raider Challenge. Erika Knieper (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) slammed home a season-best 13 kills and Kara Lewicki (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) collected 11 kills while only committing one error on 25 attempts to set the tone for the Monarchs in Sunday's opener. Lewicki added 15 digs for her fourth double-double of the campaign, while Khloee Stoll (Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) championed the defensive effort with 25 digs.
Natalie Husson (Marysville, Mich./Marysville) posted nine kills (one error) on 18 attempts and was joined by Erika Knieper with a team-high-tying four block assists. Ja'Nae Davis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Godwin Heights) impressed in her hometown once again with seven kills (one error) on 20 attempts for a .300 hitting percentage.
Emily Langlois (Macomb, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) tossed up 41 assists, three shy of her career-high mark of 44 set earlier this season against Lawrence Tech.
MATCH TWO: #10 Grand Rapids 3, Macomb 1 (17-25, 28-26, 14-25, 16-25)
The Monarchs closed out Raider Classic play with a match against the host Raiders and fought valiantly against the nation's 10th ranked team. Despite the setback, the Monarchs were able to become only the fourth team since Sept. 1 to take a set from the Raiders, showcasing the team's ability to compete with the best NJCAA Division II has to offer.
Kara Lewicki's 11 kills led the attack, while Khloee Stoll and Juliana Bollini paced the back row with 18 and 13 digs, respectively. As a team, the Monarchs recorded 54 digs as part of an impressive defensive display against one of the country's top attacks. At the net, the Monarchs tallied 31 kills with Natalie Husson and Erika Knieper checking in behind Lewicki (11) with six kills each in the four-set battle with GRCC.
