JACKSON – What a battle! In a match that could have gone either way, Macomb Volleyball fell in four tightly contested sets at Jackson College by scores of 16-25, 25-19, 27-29 and 23-25. The Monarchs, now 6-4 in the MCCAA East, will play on their home floor for the final time this season on Monday (Oct. 28) when they host Oakland Community College at 7 p.m.
 
Monday's match will also be Sophomore Night as the Monarchs honor the careers of their five sophomores: Grace Amoe, Paige Elliott, Katarina Gavric, Milley McCutcheon and Hadley Schaefer. The sophomore ceremony will take place during starting lineups just before the match.
 
With two matches remaining in conference play, the Monarchs can clinch a spot in the Great Lakes District Championship (A or B) on Monday with a win over Oakland Community College or a Schoolcraft loss against Jackson. Seeding and district assignment likely won't be determined until the end of the regular season (Oct. 30 at St. Clair County Community College).
 
As for Wednesday at Jackson, the Monarchs were led by Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day) as the sophomore setter returned to the lineup with 30 assists, 20 digs and six kills. Kaley Eller (Utica, Mich./Utica) posted a team-best 12 kills, followed by Kara Beeker (Warren, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) with nine, Grace Amoe (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) with eight and Jordan Pflaum (Shelby Twp., Mich./Lutheran High North) with six, tying Elliott.
 
Alexis Cunha (Richmond, Mich./Anchor Bay) paced the team defensively with 35 digs, two away from her career-best of 37. Elliott finished one dig shy of her career-high of 21, set twice during the sophomore's two years at Macomb.
 
Milley McCutcheon (Roseville, Mich./Lakeview) served up four aces to bring her total over the past two matches to 10. The sophomore setter has 17 in total on the season.