PORT HURON, Mich. – Macomb Volleyball shifted to 6-4 on the season with a pair of losses at the SC4 Skippers Quad on Saturday (Sept. 13) in Port Huron. The Monarchs, playing without starting setter Korin Hutton, took North Central Michigan College to five sets before narrowly falling in the final frame, and later dropped a four-set tilt to Delta College.
 
With the early portion of non-conference action out of the way, the Monarchs now turn their attention to MCCAA Eastern Conference play. The league slate opens Monday (Sept. 15) at Oakland Community College with first serve set for 7 p.m. from OCC's Auburn Hills campus.
 
MATCH ONE: North Central Michigan 3, Macomb 2 (21-25, 12-25, 25-22, 25-17, 12-15)
Alexis Cunha, a starting libero/defensive specialist, stepped into the setter role on Saturday and helped the Monarchs battle for five sets against a quality North Central Michigan team. Cunha had 18 assists and was followed in the category by Sophia Kuluga who had five. Kara Beeker led the team in kills with eight, Jordan Pflaum had seven and Caryss Terry slammed down six kills.
 
Defensively, the Monarchs shined with 20 block assists, led by a career-best efforts out of Terry with eight and Pflaum with seven.
 
Kulaga's four aces led the service department, while Beeker and Kaley Eller chipped in with three each. Kulaga also led the team in digs with 22, while Cunha recorded 18 and Plfaum added 13.
 
MATCH TWO: Delta 3, Macomb 1 (10-25, 20-25, 25-22, 23-25)
Cunha amassed a career-high 32 assists in her temporary role as setter and added 10 digs to pace the Monarchs in a four-set contest against Delta. At the net, the Monarchs were led by 23 combined kills out of Pflaum (13) and Eller (10).
 
Kulaga once again anchored the defense with 13 digs while Beeker matched Cunha with 10 digs of her own.