The Blue Angels will be wrapping up the 2014 season against Northland International University in Dunbar, Wis. this week. The match on Tuesday Oct. 28th is at 5:30 pm and will be the third meeting of the season between the teams.
In the first rendition of NIU versus MMU series, the Pioneers won in a 3-1 match. The first set went for the Blue Angels 25-17, but the euphoria of the first set's victory did not last long, as the Pioneers turned around and beat MMU in a 25-13 set. After the wind was sucked out of the team's sails, they could not get back into rhythm, and lost some close sets 25-21 and 25-19 to give NIU the win.
Payton Hintz (Fr./Almond, Wis.) has had some big games against the Pioneers. In the first match, Hintz cleared six kills and led the team with 13 assists. After a few games off with injury, Hintz knocked off the rust from her brief time off in the second match against NIU getting two kills and 17 assists for the Blue Angels.
The second match was a 3-0 sweep for the Pioneers, one in which MMU really pushed the limits in the second set forcing extra points, but lost 29-27. The last set got away from the Blue Angels as they fell short 25-15 to end the match.
All-time, the series between the teams is 7-5 with MMU in front. However, the last four games have gone in favor of the Pioneers. The Blue Angels have had time to rest the injured, and have plenty of cohesiveness with the lineup they have in place. Confidence is high in the MMU locker-room for the final game of the season for the volleyball team.
