MILWAUKEE – With hearts racing and nerves roaring, the 2017 Mount Mary University volleyball team stood on the court gazing at pregame clock as it hit zero before their final game in a winless season… to that point.
Silver Lake College came to the Bloechl Center looking for their second win of the season against the Blue Angels that evening. Three seniors were geared up and played near flawless volleyball as the Blue Angels shocked the Lakers and came away with a 3-0 seep to give MMU their first win of the year. After finishing the season 1-19 and sending multiple Blue Angels to the Association of Division III Independents Second Team, the Blue Angels are hopeful for the future.
"I am happy we were able to finish on a high note at our last home game," said Mount Mary Head Volleyball Coach Kelsey Peterson. "The seniors deserved that win and I felt like everyone came together and contributed as much as they could – this was definitely one of the biggest highlights."
This season was lead by the Blue Angel veterans, while the roster also saw an interjection of some fresh faces as well. In their final collegiate seasons, Payton Hintz (Sr./Almond, Wis.), Rachel Barker (Sr./Milwaukee, Wis.) and Sarah Amoroso (Sr./Wauwatosa, Wis.) guided their team both on and off the court.
Hintz led the Blue Angels in assists this season (159), was second on the team in service aces (25) and third in digs (130). The wide array of statistical categories fronted by Hintz was due to the senior's ability to play anywhere the Blue Angels needed. The proverbial jack-of-all-trades, Hintz also finished third on the team in total blocks (7).
Barker and Amoroso led in their senior roles right on the front lines. The duo policed the front of the net and combined for 32 blocks. After both Blue Angels had started nearly every match for the last four seasons, the experience and timing was crucial to the duo's defensive numbers.
Both Hintz and Amoroso were able to come away with Association of Division III Independents second team honors. Two of five Blue Angels that came away with similar honors.
Lauren Harris (Jr./Sheridan, Ill.) led the Blue Angels offensively almost every night. The junior outside hitter smashed 109 kills on 425 total attack to lead her squad, while also leading in service aces with 32. The perennial offensive leader for MMU, Harris has led the Blue Angels in kills and service aces in each of her three seasons at Mount Mary. Her continued pressure on offense and near the net earned the starter a spot on the AD3I second team.
Fellow returner, and AD3I second team member, Marissa Tun (Jr./Greenfield, Wis.) filled in her role as the libero for the Blue Angels. Tun took care of MMU's backline with 201 digs to lead the Blue Angels, and helped her team as she finished third in assists with 25. Also, third place on the Blue Angels in service aces, Tun's ability to play all over the court was a major constant for MMU this year.
The fifth player for the Blue Angels to grace the AD3I second team was Michaela Buchholz (So./Germantown, Wis.) who joined the volleyball team this season and worked her way to 85 digs and eight service aces on the season. In her first season on the collegiate volleyball court, Buchholz impressed with her athletic ability and speed that she was known for on the Mount Mary softball team.
"Looking back at the season's statistics overall," added coach Peterson. "We did improve in almost every category during our games in October compared to September's game stats. This was reassuring, knowing we were heading in the right direction, but we definitely need to get there a lot sooner next year."
Following the win in the Blue Angels 2017 finale, the road to next season has already begun. With the training and offseason regimens in place, MMU gears up for the 2018 season looking to build for the future. Stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com for updates and news.
