BELOIT, Wis. – The Mount Mary University volleyball team continues their opening weekend today with a trip to Beloit College for their first tournament of the season. In the first match, the Blue Angels (0-3) loss to Northland 3-0, then lost match two to Kalamazoo 3-0.
The Lumberjills took the opening set 25-15. They hit with their most effective set of the night, 11 team kills on 18 total attacks, and no errors. The Blue Angels hit aggressively with 22 total attacks and came away with eight kills in the set as well.
MMU continued to attack in the second set smashing five team kills in the frame off of their 15 attacks, but the Lumberjills answered with another accurate striking frame. Northland hit nine team kills and only two errors in the frame to take the 25-13 set-win.
The Blue Angels saved their most potent offensive set for the final set of the match against NC. MMU cracked ten team kills off 19 total attacks and no errors. The Lumberjills continued to hit well striking 16 team kills with only one error. NC took the final frame 25-18 and the over match-victory.
Adrianna Nester (Sr./Anaheim, Calif.) led the Blue Angels offense with eight kills on 18 attacks. Teammate Brianna Ecker (Fr./Fond du Lac, Wis.) set her squad up all match long with a team high 19 assists; she also landed four service aces.
In the second match, the Blue Angels took on Kalamazoo. The Hornets attacked accurately as MMU's previous opponent with nine team kills on 12 attacks. Although Kalamazoo won the opening frame 25-7, the Blue Angels fought back and were on the offensive with 19 total team attacks in the set.
MMU continued that trend in the second set which led to their most accurate set of the day. On 26 team kills, the Blue Angels hit with 10 team kills and only three errors. The Hornets also hit accurately on offense and placed 16 kills and missed with one error. That gave Kalamazoo a 25-16 set win and a 2-0 lead.
The Blue Angels attacked again in the third frame with eight kills on 17 attacks, but the Hornets took the 25-17 set win on another accurate set. However, the Blue Angels flustered their opponent forcing them into three Kalamazoo errors.
Alessa Nelson (Sr./Rockford, Ill.) led the team in the second match with seven kills on 17 attacks. She also riffled one service ace. Teammate Brianna Ecker led match number two with 15 assists and a service ace.
The Blue Angels return to action next weekend at the Blue Angels Bash. The Bloechl Center will play host to the six team tournament spanning over two days. Day one begins on Fri. Sept. 6 at 2:30 when the Blue Angels take on Silver Lake. Check out MtMaryAthletics.com for news and the full tourney schedule.
