MILWAUKEE – The 2016 volleyball season is about to begin. The Mount Mary University Blue Angels are making their final preparations as they get ready for the challenges ahead. MMU Volleyball will face the Alverno Inferno Thur. Sept. 1 in the Riemann Gymnasium to tip off the 2016 season.

Last year, the Blue Angels made a big step as they shrugged a 33 game losing streak off with a 3-1 victory over Emmaus in the early part of the season. The Blue Angels took an early lead, and parlayed that into the victory. Veteran Payton Hintz (Jr./Almond, Wis.) took control against the Eagles leading the game with 11 kills, which was her season high, eight assists and 20 kills.

The Blue Angels continued to battle through the season as they went on to defeat Silver Lake on Sept. 29, 2015. The win was significant due to the 2-0 lead the Lakers took over MMU in the first two sets by over 10 points per set. The Blue Angels came storming back winning the next two sets narrowly, then taking set five 16-14 for their second win of the season.

MMU tallied their third win of the year in a rematch against Emmaus. The Blue Angels went back and forth with the Eagles for the first four sets, until finally they took control in the fifth running away with a 15-6 final set and the victory.

After going to their first ever conference tournament at the  end the season as championship memebers of the Great South Athletic Conference, the MMU coaching staff hit the pavement hard in order to bring more depth to the roster.

"It means a little more flexibility," Added Head Volleyball Coach Kelsey Peterson on her new recruiting class. "Defensively, I think we'll be a lot more solid and dynamic, being able to execute a little bit better defensively."

 Now with the added depth, the Blue Angels are looking to make yet another step this season. Coach Peterson continued, "They [MMU volleyball players] know that our coaching staff expects a change in our culture and creating more of a winning culture and changing our attitudes a little bit to a more winning attitude."

MMU Volleyball is ripe with more depth than the roster has had in years. With the already experienced and focused returners coupled with the skill of the new class, this season could be the next stepping stone for the Blue Angels

The season begins against rival Alverno College Sept. 1 at 6:00 pm. The host Inferno have won each meeting since Oct. 9, 2012 as the Blue Angels look to change the tides on the series Thursday. Then MMU turns around to host Association of Division III Independents rival Finlandia University Sept. 5 at 6:00 pm for their home opener. Stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com or follow us on twitter to keep up-to-date.

Returners

Sarah Amoroso, (Jr./Wauwatosa, Wis.), Middle Blocker
2015: Led MMU in Block Assists (14); Second on MMU in Block Solo (8), Total Blocks (22)

Rachel Barker, (Jr./Milwaukee, Wis.), Outside Hitter
2015: Led MMU in Block Solo (11), Total Blocks (24); Second on MMU in Block Assists (13)

Katy Carlson, (So./Whitewater, Wis.), Outside Hitter
2015: Second on MMU in Total Attacks (566), Third on MMU in Kill Percentage (.042), Points (143.5)

Lauren Harris, (So./Sheridan, Ill.), Outside Hitter
2015: Led MMU in Service Aces (30), Kills (144), Kill percentage (.093), Digs (307), Points (177.0)

Payton Hintz, (Jr./ Almond, Wis.), Setter/Right Side
2015: Led MMU in Service Aces (30); Second on MMU in Kills (127), Digs (300), Assists (197), Points (163.5)

New Comers

Melanie Coffey, (Fr./Cedarburg, Wis.), Dominican High School

Alyssa Nelson, (Jr./Rockford, Ill.), Thomas Jefferson High School/Rock Valley College

Adrianna Nester, (Fr./Anaheim, Calif.), Western High School

Marissa Tun, (So./Greenfield, Wis.), Greenfield High School