Macomb Community College Athletics

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Macomb Volleyball team lifted the lid on the 2026 season on Friday (Aug. 21) afternoon, competing in day one of the famed Opening Weekend Tournament in Rockford, Ill.

With just two returning players hitting the court and a handful of freshmen seeing their first collegiate action, the Monarchs battled but dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in the first match of the day against Southeastern Community College (Iowa). Match two saw the Blue and White fall in three sets to the defending MCCAA Western Conference Champion Roadrunners of Southwestern Michigan College.

 Friday's matches also marked the regular season debut for new head coach, Erika Knieper. 

MATCH ONE: Southeastern 3, Macomb 2 (25-27, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 13-15)
A back and forth affair in the opening set went narrowly in favor of the Blackhawks by a 27-25 margin. The Monarchs battled back in set two, this time earning a narrow victory of their own by a set tally of 25-23 to even up the contest. Third set action was witness to the biggest separation of the marathon match as the Blackhawks won, 25-17.

Down two-sets-to-one, the Monarchs didn't back down and sent the contest to a deciding fifth frame after posting a thrilling 26-24 win in set four. A couple of tough breaks for the Monarchs late in the fifth set proved to be the difference as the Blackhawks escaped with a 15-13 set victory to win the match.

Freshman outside hitter Ava Hunt recorded a well-rounded match in her collegiate debut with 10 kills, 10 digs and six aces. Fellow first-year player Rachel Westendorp paced the Monarchs at the net with 13 kills, while Madison Martin started her collegiate career with 10 kills as the trio of freshmen accounted for 33 of the team's 47 kills in the five-set contest.

Freshman libero/defensive specialist Delaney Heflin led the defense with 15 digs, while sophomore Korin Hutton carried over her strong play from last season with 29 assists and a team-best seven aces in the opening tilt. 

MATCH TWO: Southwestern Michigan 3, Macomb 0 (20-25, 16-25, 20-25)
With 10 returning players, the more experienced Roadrunners were in control from the start as they fended off the Monarchs in three sets.

Martin led the Monarch offense with seven kills while sophomore Brooke Baker added six. Baker also added seven digs defensively. 

Hutton had a team-high 13 assists to go along with 10 digs while Heflin posted 11 digs. 

UP NEXT
The Monarchs return to action at the Opening Weekend Tournament Saturday (Aug. 22) with matches against Dakota College at Bottineau at 12:15 p.m. CT and Morton College at 2:15 p.m. CT.