LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Mount Mary University volleyball squad returned to Lake Forest College for day two of the Forester Invite Saturday, putting up another pair of valiant efforts. However, the Blue Angels dropped both matches—the first to Marian University, 23-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-11, before a sweep by Benedictine 25-17, 25-18, 25-22.
While the losses dropped Mount Mary to 0-5 after a busy first week of the season, the Blue Angels have shown great competitiveness and promise throughout.
As it has been most of the season, offensive balance was key in MMU's first match of the day. Freshman Emma White (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) dished out 18 assists as every player who saw action recorded at least two kills. Sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) led the team with eight kills, with junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) added four.
Defensively, four players tallied double-digit digs led by junior Jacklyn Mozdzen (Wautoma, Wis./Wautoma) and Ecker's 15 digs. Freshman Ava Ramos (San Antonio, Texas/Marshall) picked up 14 digs to go with her match-high four service aces, while classmate Ahlyna Cason (Smithton, Mo./Smithton R-VI) added 11 digs.
In the nightcap, long Benedictine service runs proved the difference in the Eagles' victory—including an eight-point run to push a 16-16 tie to a 24-18 in the third.
Every player who saw court action recorded a kill against BenU, with Ecker and Strusz leading the Blue Angels with five apiece. White secured her first double-double of the season with 17 assists and 11 digs, also recording the lone solo stuff of the match.
Mount Mary will return to action next weekend, hosting the seven-team Blue Angel Bash Friday and Saturday at the Bloechl Center. The Blue Angels will kick off the two-day tournament with a 1 p.m. Friday matchup with Rockford University.
