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The 麻豆映画传媒 Centurions volleyball team delivered its most electric performance of the season Wednesday night, Oct. 14, earning a first-ever win against a conference rival.
The Centurions (3-6 MCCAA Northern, 5-19 overall) defeated the Muskegon Community College Jayhawks (4-4 MCCAA Northern, 9-10 overall), outlasting the Jayhawks in a dramatic five鈥憇et battle. The Centurions rallied from a 6鈥�2 deficit in the decisive fifth set to secure a 3鈥�2 victory (25鈥�23, 18鈥�25, 30鈥�28, 18鈥�25, 15鈥�12), marking one of the biggest wins in the young history of MCC volleyball.
鈥淭his is the first time MCC has ever beaten Muskegon, so I think that鈥檚 an accomplishment in itself,鈥� sophomore outside hitter Erin Borek said. 鈥淚t just goes to show you what kind of team this is. We鈥檙e always ready to put up a fight.鈥�
A historic night, built point by point
MCC opened the match with a strong first set, powered by early kills from freshman Ayanna Sanders (Caledonia, Mich.) and a string of tough serves from Borek (Grand Rapids, Mich.). The Centurions controlled much of the opener, winning 25鈥�23 behind a late-game kill from Sanders and Borek鈥檚 steadying presence at the net.
Muskegon responded with a dominant second set, using a run of kills from Alissa Klopp and Jaelyn Laird to even the match, 1鈥�1.
The third set became the turning point 鈥� and one of the most chaotic, high鈥慹nergy sets MCC has played all season. The teams traded long volleys, tight blocks and momentum swings before MCC finally closed out a marathon 30鈥�28 win.
Sophomores Andie Bennett (Reed City, Mich.) and Edy Davidson (Carson City, Mich.) and freshman setter Amy Anderson (Lakeview, Mich.) all contributed key defensive plays, while Sanders and Borek delivered clutch kills during the red zone (when a team gets to 20 points).
鈥淭hat third set showed what our girls have to offer,鈥� Centurions head coach Kara Youngs said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e gone through different rotations, and when you get girls coming off the bench to help in the moment, and the engagement from the bench 鈥� it鈥檚 huge.鈥�
Muskegon forced a fifth set with a 25鈥�18 win in the fourth, setting up a pressure鈥慺illed finish.
Refusing to fold
The Jayhawks jumped ahead 6鈥�2 in the fifth set, threatening to steal back the momentum. But MCC responded with the kind of composure Youngs said the team didn鈥檛 have earlier in the season.
鈥淚t shows how far our mental game has come in the last four weeks,鈥� Youngs said. 鈥淓arlier in the season, we wouldn鈥檛 have been able to win a game like this mentally.鈥�
Borek, who moved from libero to outside hitter last week, delivered several crucial swings, while Sanders hammered home the kill that put MCC ahead, 13鈥�11. Anderson added a key tip, and sophomore Esther Iung (Perrinton, Michigan) served an ace that helped fuel the comeback.
Youngs said Borek鈥檚 position change elevated the team.
鈥淓rin ran with that role,鈥� Youngs said. 鈥淗er calmness and consistency really help. Even if she has errors, you don鈥檛 really notice them. Her maturity at that position put us on another level.鈥�
MCC closed out the match, 15鈥�12, after Anderson tipped the final ball into open space, sealing the historic win.
A milestone for a growing program
Youngs said the victory is more than just a single match 鈥� it鈥檚 a sign of where MCC volleyball is headed.
鈥淭his win keeps building the confidence we need,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big milestone toward our end goal of getting into regionals. It shows we can do it.鈥�
Borek said the team鈥檚 mindset before the fifth set was simple.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e in our house; this is our community,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e told ourselves let鈥檚 go out there and do what we need to do to get it done.鈥�
After the final point, the Centurions celebrated the well-deserved win.
鈥淭his feels great,鈥� Borek said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to go celebrate in the locker room.鈥�
MCC has now won back-to-back home games, beating Great Lakes Christian College, 3-0, last Monday.
With the milestone win against the Jayhawks, Youngs said the team will enjoy the moment 鈥� briefly.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to enjoy this tonight,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut tomorrow is a new day, and Monday is a new opponent. We need to keep going after what we鈥檝e been practicing and be ready for the next game.鈥�
UP NEXT
The Centurions will host Bay College Monday, Oct. 19. MCC will look for another milestone against the Norse 鈥� a season sweep, having defeated them, 3-2, in Escanaba, Sept. 28. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
This will be MCC鈥檚 Pink Out game, which is a campaign for cancer awareness.