Volleyball

DUNBAR, Wis. – The Blue Angel volleyball team kept up its winning ways this weekend, posting a perfect 4-0 match record en route to winning the Northland International University Invitational championship. The victories put Mount Mary over the .500 mark on the season, improving to 12-9 overall.

Seemingly, one side of the net proved much luckier than the other in the tournament opener against Emmaus Bible College as the Blue Angels displayed a Jekyll/Hyde sort of performance. After dropping a sluggish first set 25-23 on just .070 hitting, Mount Mary hit a blistering .433 while recording 16 kills in the 25-15 second set win. A horrendous third set in which the Blue Angels recorded nine errors to only eight kills was turned around in the fourth, tallying 14 kills on .440 hitting. Having shaken the cobwebs a bit, MMC cruised in the third set to finally seal the match victory, 3-2.

In Friday's nightcap, Mount Mary met a very spirited host in Northland International, but the Blue Angels proved a bit superior en route to a 25-19, 25-13, 25-21 victory.

Taking a 2-0 record into Day Two, Mount Mary matched up with Finlandia in the morning session, and the Blue Angels took it to the Lions 25-7, 25-21, 25-16. As a team, Mount Mary out hit Finlandia .232 to -.026, while tallying over twice as many kills.

In the tournament championship, the Blue Angels earned a rematch from Emmaus Bible College, though, unlike the day before, it was decided in sweeping fashion. MMC held the Eagles to -.069 hitting while also recording 23 more kills in the 25-14, 25-16, 25-13 victory.

Offensively, junior outside Stephanie Hardwick (West Allis, Wis.) led the way with 65 kills over the four-match tournament, averaging nearly five kills per set on the weekend. Senior setter Chelsie Beeler (Jackson, Wis.) added nearly eight assists per set as well.

Mount Mary's road swing continues Tuesday as it will travel to Lawrence University for a 7 pm matchup against the Vikings in Appleton, Wis.