The Macomb High volleyball squad posted a 3-2 record in finishing seventh out of 16 teams in Saturday’s Macomb High Volleyball Classic played at Brophy Hall on the campus of Western Illinois University.
“All the games we played in, we competed well,” said MHS coach Hillary Humes. “Even though we lost, the sets were close, we were competing. It was a few errors here and there that by the midseason we won’t be making.”
“They’re all easy things that we can fix,” she added. The Bombers opened pool play by edging Deer Creek-Mackinaw, rallying for a 23-25, 25-15, 16-14 victory.
Macomb dropped its second match to Peoria Notre Dame, losing 25-10, 25-17 before rallying to defeat Rockridge 25-22, 25-17 to finish pool play with a 2-1 record.
“We’ve been trying some new lineups, all kinds of changes,” said Humes. “New coach, new girls out there. I like to try different things to see what’s the best fit right now.”
In bracket play, Macomb lost to Athens 25-18, 26-24. But the Bombers bounced back in their final match of the day, rallying to beat Illini West 21-25, 27-25, 15-1.
“They always have that hunger to beat Illini West,” said Humes of the squad.
She noted that she primarily played seniors in sets 2-3. “There’s a definite chemistry when they’re out there on the court together,” said Humes of the seniors. “They really came through in a big way in that last set.”
“I want to see those seniors out on the court together,” she added. “That’s our big goal.”
“They’ve been wanting that since last year,” said Humes. “They’ve just got to keep having that hunger for it.”
“It was a really great way to end the day.” Senior Jordan Hines finished the day with 23 kills, six service aces and 35 digs in being selected to the all-tournament team.
“She steps up in big ways,” said Humes of Hines. “She wants to be out there. She loves to compete. She’s got the grit, the drive, the hunger, everything you want in an athlete and a captain on your team.”
“We look to her in big moments of a game to step up,” Humes added. “She really takes that and runs with it. She is going to get the ball and she wants the ball in those situations. Not a lot of athletes do.”
Senior setter Sophie Wilson finished the day with 80 set assists and 32 digs.
Emily Westerhold recorded 59 digs and 30 service points, while Jersee Mills added 11 kills, 26 digs and 25 service points.
The Bombers opened their season on Aug. 28 at Jacksonville High dropping a 25-23, 25-23 decision to the host Crimsons.
Jordan Hines and Cadence Hotz each had four kills, while Mills added three kills.
Westerhold had 12 digs and two service aces, while Wilson tallied 16 set assists.
Macomb has just one match this week as it heads to Astoria on Wednesday to begin Prairieland Conference South Division play against South Fulton.
Jordan Hines Photo by Andrea Ratermann
