MILWAUKEE – Junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) and sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) each recorded a double-double, but the Mount Mary University volleyball team dropped its MMU Autumn Classic finale Saturday afternoon to Beloit College, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-8.
Strusz and Ecker tallied a team-high 14 and 13 kills, respectively, while freshman Morgan Vander Kooy (Fond du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) added eight. Five players notched double-figures in digs, led by Strusz's match-high and career-high 24. Junior Jacklyn Mozdzen (Wautoma, Wis./Wautoma) added 22, Ecker chipped in 19, junior Lauren Nylund (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) had 15, and freshman setter Emma White (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) had 11 digs to accompany her 36 assists.
Mount Mary (7-18 overall) came out strong, leading by as many as six midway through the opening frame. The Buccaneers would pull to within two, but untimely attack errors and a kill by junior Alyssa Davis (Milwaukee, Wis./School of Languages) handed MMU set point. A final kill by Strusz eventually put the home squad up 1-0.
Similarly, sets two and three saw Beloit take control midway through those respective stanzas, with the Blue Angels furious comeback in the latter falling just short. Beloit played to near perfection in the fourth set, as evidenced by the score, with just one total team error to effectively put the match away.
The Blue Angels will close out their regular season this upcoming weekend with a four-match slate at neighboring Wisconsin Lutheran College. MMU will take on Elmhurst and Concordia-Chicago Friday evening before battling MSOE and Carroll Saturday afternoon.
