FLINT, Mich. – Macomb Volleyball racked up 40 kills and played a well-rounded contest, but ultimately Wednesday's (Sept. 13) MCCAA Eastern Conference showdown would go in favor of the host Bears from Mott Community College by a 3-1 final (17-25, 25-17, 21-25, 20-25). The loss sends the Monarchs to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in league play. Mott improved to 4-6 overall and 1-0 in the MCCAA East with the victory.

In what could best be described as a seesaw match, the Monarchs and Bears engaged in a back-and-forth battle before the hosts ended up on top for the four-set win. The Bears took set one by a 25-17 decision before the Monarchs flipped the contest with a 25-17 victory of their own in the second set. Set three and four were tight throughout, but late unanswered runs by the Bears in both sets were the difference as the hosts earned a 3-1 win.

Chante Hudgins (Warren, Mich./Lincoln) paced the action with 12 kills on 26 attempts and a .308 hitting percentage, while Adeline Tresnak (Dryden, Mich./Dryden) and Mallory Cardinale (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) followed with 10 and nine kills, respectively, and Hadley Schaefer (Harrison Twp., Mich./Parkway Christian) added six.

Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day) recorded 35 assists on 40 kills and added seven digs and Grace Amoe (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) led the blocks department with two solos and three block assists.

Freshman libero Nikole Nikolova (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) anchored the defense with 26 digs and was followed by Tresnak (15), Cardinale (12) and Becca Weiss (Dryden, Mich./Dryden) who rounded out the defensive leaders with 10 digs.

On top of a 12-dig, nine-kill effort, Cardinale also added a team-best five aces in the four-set battle with the Bears.

The Monarchs return to the court Monday (Sept. 18) with a home conference tilt against the Schoolcraft College Ocelots at 7 p.m. Monday's match is the first of two home matches next week as Henry Ford visits the Sports & Expo Center Wednesday (Sept. 20) for a conference contest at 7 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on www.MacombMonarchs.com/Watch.