ANKENY, Iowa – The Mount Mary University volleyball team lost their match against host Faith Baptist Bible College today at the Faith Baptist Convention Center. Again, the Blue Angels had a rough opening set, but bounced back to take the second. The Eagles (5-7) took the final two sets of the contest and move the Blue Angels season record to 0-5.
Although the Blue Angels jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead in the first set, Faith Baptist kept at it, and hit accurately to climb out of the early hole. The opening set saw the Eagles and Blue Angels on opposite sides of the kill/error ratio. FBBC finished the first set with eight team kills on 22 total attacks with two errors. MMU struggled with three team kills on 28 total attacks and seven team errors. The Eagles took that set 25-9.
In a mirror to their last match, the Blue Angels bounced back with a reenergized vitality in the second frame. Falling behind early, the Blue Angels swung the momentum back to their favor and took a 10-10 tie, to a 25-22 set win. MMU received multiple digs and saves from Marissa Tun (Jr./Greenfield, Wis.) who also helped spark that second surge with a service ace at 16-15.
The Eagles received their second-wind starting in the third frame when they went on a 14-4 run to win the set, then took an early 10-5 lead to finish the final frame 25-18. Faith Baptist notched 16 kills on 62 total attacks and 13 errors in the final two sets.
Adrianna Nester (So./ Anaheim, Calif.) led the offensive attack with four kills on 14 total attacks and one error. Teammate Amelia Flint (Sr./Whitefish Bay, Wis.) also helped the team's accuracy hitting three kills with no attack errors.
Payton Hintz (Sr./Almond, Wis.) led the Blue Angels again with nine assists on the day. Freshman Johnelle Suto (Enterprise, Ore.) also helped mix up the offense with six assists of her own.
The Blue Angels will now prepare for their next match in the Windy City against Illinois Tech (3-7). It will mark only the third time in school history these teams will meet. Live stats and video will be available for the road contest. Links for the match on Thu. Sept. 21 can be found at mtmaryathletics.com.
