ROCKFORD, Ill. – And that's just day one! Macomb Volleyball kicked off the 2024 season in Rockford, Ill., on Friday (Aug. 23) by playing the first two of six scheduled matches over the weekend at the Opening Weekend Tournament. The Monarchs dropped a hard-fought opener to NJCAA Division I power and 2023 region finalist, John A. Logan, in straight sets and later bounced back to defeat Black Hawk College in a five-set thriller.

The 1-1 day featured balanced play at nearly every position as the 2024 version of Macomb Volleyball showcased its added athleticism and depth in a big way.

JOHN A. LOGAN 3, MACOMB 0 (22-25, 20-25, 17-25)
The new-look Monarchs led early and often over the first two sets but couldn't hold on as the Vols earned a 3-0 win. Despite losing late leads in sets one and two, the Monarchs showed plenty of promise and were able to go toe-to-toe with the more experienced Vols.

Kara Beeker (Warren, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) paced the Monarch attack with 11 kills in her collegiate debut, while returners Grace Amoe (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) and Adeline Tresnak (Dryden, Mich./Dryden) followed with six kills and five kills, respectively. Tresnak added 12 digs to begin her second season in the Macomb Blue & White in style.

Sophia Kulaga (Ortonville, Mich./Brandon) also enjoyed a stellar collegiate debut as the defensive specialist/libero served up a match-high five aces.

Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day) picked up where she left off last year with 22 assists and 11 digs, four behind Alexis Cunha's (Richmond, Mich./Anchor Bay) team-best 15 digs.

Kaley Eller (Utica, Mich./Utica) rounded out an impressive cast of new faces in the lineup with three blocks in the opener.

MACOMB 3, BLACK HAWK 2 (25-19, 19-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-12)
An impressive effort! Trailing two-sets-to-one, the Monarchs rallied to win the fourth set, 25-22, before erasing a four-point deficit in the final frame to earn a 15-12 edge and the five-set victory over Black Hawk College. The five-set win was a product of resilient play all around as Paige Elliott and Adeline Tresnak recorded double-doubles to lead the way. Elliott anchored the Monarchs with team-leading numbers in assists (27) and digs (19) while Tresnak hammered down 13 kills and added 10 digs.

Grace Amoe followed Tresnak at the net with nine kills and Kara Beeker continued her strong day with eight kills. Jordan Pflaum (Shelby Twp., Mich./Lutheran High North) impressed defensively with a solo block and four block assists to finish ahead of Amoe and Kaley Eller who checked in with three blocks each.

Sophia Kulaga, who was second on the team in digs with 16, added three more aces to finish day one with a grand total of eight. Ashlyn Cunha (Richmond, Mich./Anchor Bay) had 11 digs and tied Kulaga with a trio of aces and Milley McCutcheon (Roseville, Mich./Lakeview) had two aces of her own to go along with nine assists.

UP NEXT: OWT Day Two
The Monarchs return to the UW Health Sports Factory in Rockford tomorrow (Aug. 24) to take on preseason No. 21 Madison College at 2:15 p.m. CT and Milwaukee Area Tech at 4:15 p.m. CT.