The Macomb High varsity volleyball team moved one step closer to a Prairieland South Division title on Tuesday before losing at home to rival Quincy Notre Dame on Wednesday.
On Tuesday evening at Havana, the Bombers improved to 4-0 in South Division play with a 25-22, 25-16 victory over the hosts.
Dakota Thorman, Jordan Hines and Cadence Hotz all recorded five kills each for Macomb.
Hotz also added four blocks, while Hines added two blocks.
Jersee Mills finished with four kills, two blocks and 10 digs, while Brixley Lidaywa chipped in two kills and seven digs.
Emily Westerhold tallied 17 digs, along with two service aces for the Bombers.
The MHS JV completed the sweep with a 25-9, 25-16 victory.
Wednesday evening at The Hangar, the visiting Raiders rolled into Macomb and left with a sweep, including a 25-19, 25-20 victory in the varsity contest.
QND improved to 18-4 on the season, while MHS dropped to 12-9.
“This was the best that we have played all season. I would say that,” said MHS coach Hillary Humes. “QND’s a good team. They bring that out of us. You want to play against QND and compete against QND.”
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“We play up to that level of intensity,” she added. “We have to find a way to do that against other teams and not play down to other teams’ level.”
“I think our energy was a big component and also just our offense,” said QND coach Danielle White. “(Macomb) came out strong defensively, which was great for us to see. We had to move a couple of things around and try to create the offense a little more. But the girls did great.”
“Our energy is a huge thing for this team,” she added. “As long as they show up with that energy, we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
Tied at 9-9 in the opening set, the Raiders took the lead on the strength of a sixpoint service run by Joselyn Boyer. That included one service ace and a block by Eva Breckenkamp.
The Raiders led 23-11 before the Bombers made one final push.
Emily Westerhold tallied four straight points that included an ace and a Jordan Hines kill to bring MHS within 24-19 before a Kate Gramke kill ended the set.
QND never trailed in the second set, building as much as a 13-6 lead.
But the Bombers chipped away getting within one point twice, the second time at 19-18.
But a Gramke kill made it 20-18 and Macomb got no closer as the Raiders closed out the match.
“Our height is something that not a lot of teams have,” said White. “Being able to see them use that to the best of their ability to block and put balls down like we need them to is great to see.”
“We knew that they were going to get kills on us,” said Humes. “But actually in set one, I thought we blocked pretty well against them.”
“We did a good job of attacking as a blocker attacking their hits and making them second guess as to whether they wanted to tip or hit and force them into their errors,” she added.
Despite the loss, Humes was encouraged by the team’s play.
“They showed some hunger and grit that we hadn’t seen yet,” said Humes of her squad. “It showed them they have it. They just have to bring it out.”
Mills had four kills and four digs for MHS, while Hines added three kills, eight digs and two blocks.
Hotz recorded three kills and five blocks, while Westerhold added eight service points and seven digs.
Sophie Wilson recorded seven set assists.
The MHS freshmen were defeated 25-16, 25-17, while the sophomore also lost 25-18, 25-13.
The varsity squad will play in the Sherrard Volleyball Classic at Sherrard on Saturday against Kewanee Wethersfield, 9 a.m.; Rockridge, noon; United Township, 2 p.m. and Mendon Unity, 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the JV will see actional at the Pleasant Plains Invite.
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