MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University volleyball team was swept on the final day of the MSOE Invitational Saturday, coming up just short against Maranatha Baptist University, 25-7, 25-23, 29-27, and Central College (Iowa), 25-10, 25-15, 25-15.
The weekend dropped Mount Mary to 3-13 overall, as the Blue Angels have reached the midpoint of their regular season schedule.
The two-day, eight-match tournament was originally scheduled to take place at MSOE's Hotchkin Arena but was moved to Mount Mary's own Bloechl Center. Central finished a perfect 3-0 on the weekend, followed by MSOE's 3-1 mark. Maranatha Baptist won two of its three matches, while both Lawrence and MMU went 0-3 on the weekend.
MARANATHA BAPTIST 3, MMU 0
Saturday morning was not very kind to MMU, scoring its fewest points in a set this season. However, the Blue Angels quickly responded to push rival MBU to a pair of two-point decisions in sets two and three, including a riveting 29-27 third.
Ecker recorded yet another double-double, leading MMU with 10 kills and a team-high 16 digs. Freshman Morgan Vander Kooy (Fond du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) added five kills, but the Blue Angels recorded more errors (27) than kills (26). Cason added 11 digs, while freshman Emma White (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saugaro) dished out 18 assists and a match-high four service aces.
CENTRAL 3, MMU 0
Mount Mary's first-ever meeting with Central (Iowa) did not go particularly well for the Blue Angels, as the high-flying Dutch swept the hosts in both teams' tournament finale Saturday. Ten different players recorded a kill as Central hit a blistering .435 with just eight attack errors.
Strusz provided a highlight for MMU on the outside, recording a team-high nine kills on .261 hitting. Ecker led the defense with nine digs.
Mount Mary will return to action this upcoming weekend, heading to beautiful Northern Michigan for Finlandia University's SISU Classic. The exact tournament schedule is still being determined, however, the Blue Angels will face the host Lions and Great Lakes Christian College.
