WARREN, Mich. – Day one of the Macomb Volleyball Invitational started strong and showed plenty of promise as the Monarchs went 1-2 on Saturday (Sept. 7) afternoon in Warren.
Macomb 3, Lawrence Tech JV 0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-16)
The skid has been snapped! The Monarchs were in control from start to finish in their Macomb Volleyball Invitational opener in a 3-0 sweep over Lawrence Tech JV. The Monarchs cruised to a 25-9 win in the opening set and later emerged victorious by identical 25-16 scores in the second and third sets to earn the sweep.
Adeline Tresnak (Dryden, Mich./Dryden) led the Monarch attack with 12 kills and was followed by a trio of teammates with five kills each:
Grace Amoe (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse),
Kaley Eller (Utica, Mich./Utica) and
Hadley Schaefer (Harrison Twp., Mich./Parkway Christian). Amoe was the most efficient Monarch at the net in the opener with five kills on 11 attempts and only one error.
Paige Elliott (Livonia, Mich./Detroit Country Day) tossed up 26 assists, led the team in digs with 19, and recorded a season-best five aces in the three-set win.
Alexis Cunha (Richmond, Mich./Anchor Bay) followed with 12 digs and Tresnak joined Elliott as Monarchs with double-doubles in the opener with 11 digs to accompany her 12 kills.
Southwestern Michigan 3, Macomb 1 (16-25, 25-23, 14-25, 24-26)
Mariah Anderson (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Enterprise) had her best match in a Macomb uniform to lead the Monarchs in a four-set loss with 10 kills and five block assists.
Hadley Schaefer added seven kills and
Grace Amoe followed with six kills to go along with four block assists in the hard-fought setback.
Paige Elliott had a 20-20 match of 27 assists and 21 digs, while
Alexis Cunha posted 26 digs to pace the back row effort.
The Monarchs were close to sending the match to five sets against Southwestern Michigan but fell in the fourth frame by a 26-24 final tally.
Kalamazoo Valley 3, Macomb 1 (14-25, 21-25, 25-15, 24-26)
The Monarchs nearly forced a fifth set for the second time in as many matches, but the visiting Cougars of Kalamazoo Valley closed out contest with a 26-24 decision in the fourth set to earn the win.
Alexis Cunha continued her ascension as the day went along and posted a career-high 37 digs, followed by
Paige Elliott with 18. Elliott added 22 assists and a pair of aces to complete a well-rounded day on the court.
Kara Beeker (Warren, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) was the lone Monarch in double digit kills with 11 and was followed by
Kaley Eller and
Jordan Pflaum (Shelby Twp., Mich./Lutheran High North) who checked in with eight kills each.
Mariah Anderson rounded out the Monarch leaders in the third and final match of the day with five more block assists.
Up Next: Macomb Invitational Finale
The Monarchs wrap up their time on the court at the Macomb Invitational with a 10 a.m. matchup tomorrow (Sept. 8) against the Timberwolves of North Central Michigan College.
