WYOMING, Mich. – Today at the finale of the Grace Christian University Volleyball Tournament, the Mount Mary University Blue Angels split in their two matches. MMU defeated Alpena Community College 3-1 in an exhibition match, then the Blue Angels (1-14) closed out their day losing 3-0 to host Grace Christian.
In the exhibition contest for the Blue Angels, MMU grabbed the first two sets 25-20 and 25-19. The hitting efficiency was one of the contributors to the early success. The Blue Angels had a .237 team hitting percentage with 13 kills on their 38 attacks in the first set then followed up with 13 kills on 48 attacks in the second set.
Alpena flipped the script in the third set and attacked with 14 team kills of their own, but the Blue Angels rallied in the fourth set. Outscoring their opponent 25-17, the Blue Angels were able to put the match away early.
Lauren Harris (Sr./Sheridan, Ill.) led the offense in the exhibition contest with 16 kills and .286 hitting percentage. Teammate Alexis Levenhagen (Fr./Menomonee Falls, Wis.) smashed an astonishing five service aces in the set to lead MMU behind the line.
In match two for the Blue Angels, the host Grace Christian Tigers traded the early lead with MMU in the opening set. Once the Blue Angels cut the lead the Tigers had to 8-6, GCU sparked a 12-2 run that pushed the team's lead out further.
MMU attacked with a match high seven kills in the first set, but the Tigers effective .421 team hitting percentage helped GCU take the 25-11 set win.
The Blue Angels came out in the second set reenergized. After the back and forth start, the Blue Angels took advantage of an early run and took a 9-3 lead. Then the Tigers responded with a devastating 13-0 run to recapture the lead. The Blue Angels stuck with it, but the Tiger finished the set with a match high 16 team kills and the 25-14 set win.
In the match's final set, the Tigers took the early lead with 11 team kills and their overall .233 hitting percentage. The Blue Angels continued to apply pressure, but the Tigers took the set 25-9 to win the match.
Harris led the Blue Angels offense in the second match with a team high six kills on 30 attacks. Teammate Lauren Nylund (Fr./Muskego, Wis.) led her Blue Angels from behind the service line with a total three service aces in the match against the Tigers.
MMU's Alessa Nelson (Jr./Rockford, Ill.) paced her team in the second match with 14 assists.
After today's matches, the Blue Angels will return home next week for a combined three contests. The first of which is set for Wed. Oct. 17 at the Bloechl Center. The match against Silver Lake College begins at 7:00 pm and will have live stats and video available at MtMaryAthletics.com.