WARREN, Mich. – Another close five set match went in favor of the opposition as Macomb Volleyball dropped its home opener to the visiting Madonna Crusader Reserves, 3-2, by set scores of 25-16, 18-25, 23-25, 25-20 and 7-15. The loss shifts the Monarchs' record to an even 2-2 on the young season.

Hadley Schaefer (Harrison Twp., Mich./Parkway Christian) led all Monarchs with a career-high nine kills and was followed by Chante Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) and Adeline Tresnak (Dryden, Mich./Dryden) with six kills each. Mallory Cardinale (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) rounded out the leaders at the net with five kills.

Cardinale and Hudgins—the reigning MCCAA Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week—are now tied with a team-leading 34 kills on the season.

Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day), the current MCCAA Eastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week, tossed up 27 assists and added 15 digs, while Tresnak added a career-high six aces to a six-kill night.
Defensively, Nikole Nikolova (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) recorded a team-high 26 digs and Hudgins tallied a team-leading five block assists.

The Monarchs remain home for a pair of matches next week as they host the Bay College Norse Friday (Sept. 8) at 7 p.m. before welcoming the Timberwolves of North Central Michigan College to Warren for a Saturday matinee match at 1 p.m.