HANCOCK, Mich. – Mount Mary University volleyball salvaged a split at the SISU Classic Friday, discarding Great Lakes Christian College, 3-0, before falling to host Finlandia, 3-1, at the Paavo Nurmi Center.
The opening match win over GLCC snapped an eight match losing streak dating back to the Lawrence Invitational tournament two weekends prior. The split decision moved MMU to 4-15 overall, while the Crusaders fell to 0-14 following an additional loss to host Finlandia. The Lions' two wins improved their season mark to 7-9 on the year.
MMU 3, GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN 0
Mount Mary scored the first nine points of the match en route to a lopsided 25-4, 25-16, 25-19 victory over the winless Crusaders.
Five players recorded at least six kills in the win, led by eight from junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) and seven from sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge). Junior Emma Carufel (St. Francis, Wis./St. Francis) and freshmen Morgan Vander Kooy (Fond du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) and Emma White (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) each added six putaways apiece.
Freshman Ahlyna Cason (Smithton, Mo./Smithton R-VI) tallied a team-best nine digs, and Ecker recorded a season-high eight service aces.
Freshmen Isabella Poulos (Palatine, Ill./Palatine), recorded four digs in her season debut, while freshman Ceara McCarthy (Argonne, Wis./Crandon) picked up her first career kill on four attacks.
FINLANDIA 3, MMU 1
In nearly a mirror image of Thursday night's matchup, Mount Mary drew first blood with a gritty first set win before the host Lions cruised in the final three to secure the 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-12 victory.
Vander Kooy and Strusz again led MMU's attack, recording seven and six kills respectively. Cason and Ecker chipped in 15 and 14 digs, respectively, while Carufel recorded a pair of service aces to accompany her team-best four blocks.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Strusz and White each earned a spot on the SISU All-Tournament Team. Finlandia's Joslynn Perala was named Tournament MVP, while Finlandia's Kennedi Eldridge and Great Lakes Christian's Sophie Lindsay and Alissa Nugent each also earned All-Tourney honors.
NEXT UP FOR THE BLUE ANGELS
Mount Mary will return to action for a midweek tilt against crosstown rival Alverno College Wednesday at Mount Mary's Bloechl Center. The Blue Angels will be seeking revenge from a riveting five set thriller in both teams' season opener back on September 1, in which the host Inferno reverse swept MMU, 19-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-22, 15-13. First serve Wednesday is slated for 7 p.m.
