PERRYSBURG, Ohio – The effort and energy was there as Macomb Volleyball put forth a valiant effort against a defending national champion and a MCCAA Northern Conference opponent Saturday (Sept. 3) at the Owens Invite. Playing Parkland, the current No. 3 team in the country and reigning NJCAA Division II champ, and Muskegon, a team that finished 23-11 a season ago, the Monarchs had their hands full but battled throughout despite ending the day with two hard-fought losses.
With the pair of setbacks, the Monarchs see their record shift to 3-4 overall with three of the four losses coming to teams who are currently ranked in national polls or who were ranked in a preseason poll. In all, the Monarchs finished 2-2 at the Owens Invite after winning both of their matches on Friday.
MATCH ONE: #3 Parkland 3, Macomb 0 (22-25, 17-25, 12-25)
The Monarchs took the defending NJCAA Division II National Champions to the brink in the first set and fought hard throughout in the 3-0 setback. Tied 22-22 in the opening set, third-ranked Parkland used their experience to close out an upset-minded Monarchs squad by a 25-22 decision. The Blue & White continued to battle and held a lead in the second set before Parkland pulled away to win in straight sets.
Chante Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) posted a team-high five kills (no errors) to lead the Monarchs against the nation's third ranked team and Haile Polisano (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) added four kills to go along with 13 digs. Olivia Kulka (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) had four block assists, pacing a cast of five Monarchs with two or more block assists, and Khloee Stoll (Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) was steady once again with 22 digs and a pair of aces.
Watch the highlights from the Parkland match here.
MATCH TWO: Muskegon 3, Macomb 0 (21-25, 15-25, 16-25)
The Owens Invite ended with a loss to Muskegon Community College in three sets (21-25, 15-25, 16-25). Khloee Stoll led the defense with 21 digs, while Jordan Turner (Highland Park, Mich./Wilmington Univ.) recorded a team-best four block assists in the three set contest. Riley Fisette (Chesterfield, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) checked in with five kills and the duo of Chante Hudgins and Natalie Husson (Marysville, Mich./Marysville) slammed down four kills each in the weekend's final match.
Skylar Hunt (Chesterfield, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) served up a team-leading three aces, while Haile Polisano followed closely with two aces of her own.
Watch the highlights from the Muskegon match here.
UP NEXT: at OCC Wednesday (Sept. 7)
The Monarchs return to the court with a road conference match at Oakland Community College Wednesday (Sept. 7) at 7:00 p.m.
