LIVONIA, Mich. – Back in the win column! Macomb Volleyball bounced back in a big way Wednesday (Oct. 11) in Livonia with a road sweep over the host Ocelots of Schoolcraft College. The Monarchs won by set scores of 25-13, 32-30 and 25-9 to improve to 9-10 overall and most importantly 5-4 in the MCCAA Eastern Conference.

With the loss to the Monarchs, the Ocelots dropped to 3-13 overall and 3-6 in conference play.

Needing a win to remain in the driver's seat for the upcoming NJCAA Region 12 Tournament (Districts A & B), the Monarchs shot out of the gates strong Wednesday, winning the opening set by a 25-13 margin behind nine kills and only two errors on 22 attempts for a .318 first set hitting percentage. The Ocelots responded in set two and forced 'extra volleyball' in a set the Monarchs eventually won by a thrilling 32-30 final behind a 13-kill effort.

In the third and final set, the Monarchs cruised to a 25-9 win to complete the sweep thanks to an efficient effort that saw the team record 14 kills (two errors) on 28 attempts for a .429 hitting percentage.

On the night, the Monarchs tallied 36 kills and an even .300 hitting percentage to pick up conference win No. 5 on the season.

Back-to-back MCCAA Offensive Player of the Week, Chante Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln), continued her torrid pace with 11 kills and only one error on 19 attempts for an impressive .526 hitting percentage. Hudgins, a MCCAA Player of the Week for a grand total of three times this season, added two block assists, two digs and an ace to help lead the Monarchs to the three-set road win.

Grace Amoe (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) joined Hudgins in the .500+ hitting percentage department Wednesday evening after posting eight kills on 14 attempts with only one error. Amoe's standout performance at the net included a solo block and two block assists.

MCCAA Defensive Player of the Week, Nikole Nikolova (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II), tied for the team-high in digs with 11 and added two assists, while Adeline Tresnak (Dryden, Mich./Dryden) narrowly missed out on a double-double with team-high-tying 11 digs to go along with nine kills, two aces and a pair of block assists. Mallory Cardinale (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) also came close to a double-double with 10 digs and seven kills, as did Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day) who tallied 33 assists and eight digs to round out Wednesday's stat leaders.

The Monarchs return to match action Monday (Oct. 16) at Henry Ford. First served is slated for 7 p.m. in Dearborn.