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SIDNEY — Montcalm Community College's volleyball season came to a close in the Great Lakes District B Tournament, but not before the Centurions achieved milestones that helped elevate the young program to new heights. 

MCC's postseason journey included the first regional tournament victory in program history and a trip to the tournament's final eight before the Centurions were eliminated by Southwestern Michigan College in straight sets, 25-20, 25-14, 25-18, at Grand Rapids Community College's Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids, Friday, Nov. 6. Earlier in the tournament, Montcalm earned a historic sweep of Terra State Community College before falling to eventual conference champion St. Clair County Community College.  

Head coach Kara Youngs said the loss to Southwestern Michigan highlighted how important serve receive and ball distribution are within the Centurions' offensive system. 

"We just didn't pass as well in serve receive," Youngs said. "That gave us fewer options offensively, so we had to rely on one or two hitters instead of moving the ball around like we had earlier in the tournament." 

Youngs said Southwestern Michigan's efficient passing and fast-paced offense also created challenges at the net. 

"They ran a quick offense and had height in the front row," she said. "Because they passed so well, it gave them a lot of attacking options and it broke up our blocking scheme. We were constantly trying to adjust based on where they were attacking from." 

The second set proved especially difficult. 

"We're a really strong defensive team, but we weren't strong defensively in that set," Youngs said. "We couldn't get our middles involved and had to rely more on our pin hitters." 

A SOLID SEASON 

Despite the defeat, Youngs' message afterward focused less on the final score and more on the accomplishments the team achieved throughout the fall. 

"I told them to be proud of where we were at," she said. "Don't discredit the entire season or the regional run because of one match. Look at the whole season and what you've accomplished for this program and the growth you've had." 

That growth was significant. 

The Centurions steadily improved throughout the season, developing into one of the more cohesive teams Youngs has coached. She credited the team's energy, trust, and depth for fueling the turnaround. 

"Our energy really came together in every match," Youngs said. "We had a full roster that we trusted. We could rotate players during critical moments, even on the road, and never felt like we'd lose that energy. During rallies and tough situations, the girls figured things out together." 

Youngs said this year's roster was one of the largest she has ever managed, creating competitive practices that helped accelerate the team's development. 

"Practices were challenging every single day because of the numbers we had," she said. "That pushed everybody to get better." 

Sophomore outside hitter Erin Borek (Grand Rapids, Mich.) agreed that the team's closeness became one of its biggest strengths. 

"What made this team special was the friendship we built throughout the season," Borek said. "We learned how to work together, support one another and trust each other on and off the court. That connection became one of our greatest strengths." 

Making the postseason and helping deliver the program's first postseason victory were highlights Borek said she will never forget. 

"It felt great to qualify for the postseason, and earning our first postseason win made it even more special," she said. "We were excited to compete against teams with so many talented players and to gain that experience together." 

Youngs said one of her favorite memories came after MCC advanced in the bracket. 

"The coolest thing was seeing the team standing there and taking the name and moving it up on the bracket wall," Youngs said. "To see that and have the girls witness it, that was a really cool moment at that stage of the season." 

BUILDING SUCCESS THROUGH UNITY, VERSATALITY 

The Centurions' success was built on contributions throughout the roster. 

Youngs pointed to Borek's leadership and consistency, noting that the sophomore ranked among the state's leaders in multiple statistical categories and repeatedly delivered in crucial moments. 

"I can't even count how many times she stepped to the service line at game point and came through for us," Youngs said. 

Youngs also praised sophomore hitter Ayanna Sanders (Caledonia, Mich.), who transitioned from middle hitter to outside hitter and led the team in kills. 

"She brought power, height and huge blocks," Youngs said. "You could feel the energy and excitement when she was performing." 

Defensively, Youngs credited sophomore libero Jocee Pleune (Grant, Mich.) for helping transform the team after moving into the libero role midway through the season. 

"Jocee really stepped up when we moved her to libero," Youngs said. "She helped make our offense stronger because everyone trusted her. She was quieter, but you always knew she was there." 

Pleune, who earned back-to-back MCCAA Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors late in the season and was named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team, said the team's offensive growth and chemistry stood out most when comparing where the group started and where it finished. 

"What impressed me most about this team was how much better our offense got and how much more we connected," Pleune said. "We became more consistent and were a hard team to shut down." 

Like Borek, Pleune said the relationships within the locker room helped make the season memorable. 

"We were able to be teammates and friends and did our best to play for each other," she said. "We also pushed each other in practice, and that really helped us." 

Versatility also became a defining characteristic for the Centurions. 

Youngs experimented with multiple position changes throughout the year, moving players between middle and outside hitter positions and converting freshman Amy Anderson (Blanchard, Mich.) from an outside hitter into a setter. 

"We just tried to find what the team needed and what each player could contribute," Youngs said. "What was unique was that nobody questioned it. They didn't hesitate. They were all willing to make those changes for the team." 

Youngs credited the sophomore class with establishing accountability and helping set expectations for younger players. 

"We talked a lot about being accountable and being in the gym," she said. "The sophomores held that expectation and instilled it into the freshmen. That's going to help with the transition into next year." 

The freshmen also embraced new responsibilities and position changes while providing energy both on the court and from the bench. 

Looking ahead, Youngs believes the foundation established this season positions the program for continued success. 

"It's always great when a program keeps growing and gets that recognition," she said. "We're building off the foundation that was started in Year 1 and continuing to add to it." 

LOOKING AHEAD 

The future appears bright for the Centurions, who return a strong freshman class that gained valuable postseason experience this fall. 

"They stepped up as freshmen and did a really good job," Youngs said. "I think they'll be great leaders next year. We already have girls signed, visits scheduled and a lot of things in the works to keep building." 

As for the departing sophomores, Borek hopes the team's legacy extends beyond the wins and records. 

"I hope this team is remembered for our ability to overcome challenges and stay resilient," she said. "We faced difficult moments, but we continued to work together and support one another." 

Pleune said the memories created along the way may ultimately mean the most. 

"I'll definitely remember making it to regionals," she said. "But mostly, I'll remember all the memories I made with this team in my last year. We had a lot of fun on and off the court, and we were always hyping each other up during matches." 

For a program that celebrated its first regional tournament victory and reached the final eight of district play, the 2026 season may ultimately be remembered as the year the Centurions showed just how high the program's ceiling can be.