The Macomb High varsity volleyball team posted a 2-3 record to finish 11th out of 16 teams in the annual Macomb High Volleyball Classic held Saturday at Western Illinois University’s Brophy Hall.
“It was an eye-opener,” said MHS coach Hillary Humes. “We needed to see just how some of the top varsity teams play and where we are at in comparison and where we need to work up to.”
MHS posted a 1-2 record in pool play. The Bombers defeated Kewanee High 25-19, 11-25, 15-12 before losing to Deer Creek-Mackinaw 19-25, 25-18, 15-13 and Pleasant Plains 25-17, 25-17.
In bracket play, MHS lost to Orion 25-17, 25-20 before closing out tournament action with a 25-15, 25-17 victory over Ridgewood.
Players stats on the day for the Bombers were as follows: Reva Koeppen – 19 kills, 19 digs and five service aces Clair Thompson – 14 kills, 27 digs and four service aces Jersee Mills – 23 kills, 19 digs and five service aces Dehlia Graham – eight kills and two blocks Ashtyn Shoopman – nine kills and three blocks Myleigh Lovell – 12 digs and one service ace Kate Rector – 31 digs and four service aces Anistyn Lovell – 73 assists, 13 digs and eight service aces “Our biggest work right now is limiting unforced errors,” said Humes. “We made 81 errors on the day - 35 service and 46 hitting.”
“There’s something to be said about playing aggressive and high risk/high reward play,” she added. “But at the same time, you have to be in control and play smart. Knowing when to go for it and when to just keep the ball in play.”
“Of course, that’s something you learn and develop with experience.”
“There were good things we did, even though we might not have come out the winner,” said Humes. “We were much scrappier on defense than we were this summer. We had long rallies against some of those teams that beat us.”
“That what this team needs - grit. Just an unyielding relentlessness to never let the ball drop.”
“We were close in a lot of sets, showing we have the ability to be competitive at this level,” Humes continued. “But it will be those small details that will make the difference in the end.”
For her efforts, Thompson was one of six players named to the All-Tournament Second Team.
“I’m proud of her earning that, because she worked really hard this summer, transitioning to a six rotation player, especially making her back row play equally as strong as her front row play,” said Humes of Thompson.
On Thursday, the Bombers opened the season with a 25-17, 25-23 home victory over Jacksonville High.
Mills finished with eight kills, four service aces and six digs for MHS.
Koeppen added seven kills, while Anistyn Lovell recorded 19 set assists and three kills.
Graham added three kills, while Thompson and Shoopman chipped in two kills each.
Thompson tallied a team-high nine digs, followed by Rector with six. Graham added three digs, with Myleigh Lovell and Koeppen adding two each.
Rector also had two set assists. Macomb (3-3) has just one match this week as it opens Prairieland Conference South Division play Wednesday, hosting South Fulton (2-0).
The next match for the Bombers following Wednesday’s contest will be Sept. 10 when they host Brown County.
