HANCOCK, Mich. – The Mount Mary University volleyball team traveled to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a four match invitational at Finlandia University. The Blue Angels dropped both games on day one to give them a 2-10 record on the season. Kalamazoo (4-11) defeated the Blue Angels 3-0, then host Finlandia (5-13) won 3-2.
In the first match, the Blue Angels quickly turned a 2-0 lead for Kalamazoo into a 9-6 lead for MMU. The spark from a service ace by Lauren Harris (So./Sheridan, Ill.) prompted the early rally. After the initial burst by Mount Mary, the Hornets went on a 10-1 run on their way to a 25-15 winning set.
Set two brought more accuracy from the Blue Angels as they hit seven team kills with three team errors on 31 total attacks. The .129 hitting percentage was the highest of the match. As a result of the efficiency, Mount Mary got an early 9-5 lead over the Hornets. After a 5 point run by Kalamazoo, four service aces from the Hornets launched a final 15-8 run on their way to the set win.
Kalamazoo jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the third set, paving their way to a 25-9 win and the sweep over the Blue Angels.
Fellow Blue Angels Katy Carlson (So./Whitewater, Wis.) and Rachel Barker (Jr./Milwaukee, Wis.) led the offensive attack in match one with three kills each. Teammate Sarah Amoroso (Jr./Wauwatosa, Wis.) had the most efficient match finishing with two kills and one error off of 5 total attacks.
In the second match, the Blue Angels bounced back. Losing the first set in a close 25-19 fashion, MMU stormed back in the second with their most efficient set of the night off of 10 team kills, three team errors on 33 total attacks. The Blue Angels enjoyed a 22-11 lead, but the Lions chipped away forcing MMU to score 26 points to take the set and tie things at 1-1.
The Lions recharged and took the third set convincingly 25-12, but again MMU bounced back for the very next set. A classic back and forth in the fourth frame, the Blue Angels jumped ahead to a 17-11 lead and took that lead to a 25-22 win.
In the finale, the Lions quickly grabbed a 4-1 lead and after MMU brought the match to within one point, Finlandia rattled off three straight points. The run effectively ended the game as the Lions would never let the lead get any smaller than four on their way to a 15-7 winning set.
Harris led the attack in the second match with 11 kills and five errors on 33 attacks for a .182 hitting percentage. Teammate Adrianna Nester (Fr./Anaheim, Calif.) took to the libero spot for the game and had the most efficient night on the team with a .200 hitting percentage off of seven kills and three errors.
The Blue Angels will finish off the invitational tomorrow with a pair of matches. The first, MMU will take on Silver Lake at 11:00 am in the second of three 2016 showdowns. Then the Blue Angels will wrap up the invite with a match against Great Lakes Christian at 5:00 pm.
