KALAMAZOO – What a match! Macomb Volleyball once again battled until the end, but ultimately came up just short of victory as the host Kalamazoo Valley Community College Cougars picked up the win in a five-set thriller on Thursday (Sept. 26). The Monarchs, now 5-13 on the season, won the opening set and never trailed in the match via set score until the final point was recorded by the Cougars in the deciding frame.
 
The Monarchs won the first set, 25-21, before the Cougars answered with a narrow 25-23 victory to even the match after two. Third set action saw the Monarchs prevail by a 25-19 margin but the Cougars once again evened up the non-conference tilt with a 25-21 win in set four. The fifth and deciding set was controlled early by the Monarchs, but the Cougars answered the bell one last time as they ended the match on a 9-2 run to earn the 15-11 victory and five-set triumph.
 
Jordan Pflaum (Shelby Twp., Mich./Lutheran High North) was incredible throughout the evening on her way to posting 15 kills on 31 attempts for a .355 hitting percentage. Pflaum's big night was followed by Kaley Eller (Utica, Mich./Utica) who posted a career-high 12 kills and Kara Beeker (Warren, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) who checked in with 11 kills.
 
Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day) captained the floor to the tune of a season-high 39 assists while adding a team-high-tying 16 digs and a team-best four aces. Elliott's career-high in assists is 50, a mark set last season against Monday's opponent, Jackson College.
 
Alexis Cunha (Richmond, Mich./Anchor Bay) tied Elliott in digs with 16, while Eller added to her career night with 10 digs and was one of four Monarchs with three block assists in the contest.
 
The Monarchs welcome the Jets of Jackson College to Warren on Monday (Sept. 30) as MCCAA East play resumes with a 7 p.m. first serve at the Sports & Expo Center.