MILWAUKEE – Alverno's Reiman Gymnasium was rockin' Wednesday night as crosstown women's college rivals clashed to open the 2021 volleyball season. While Mount Mary surged out to an early two-set lead, the hosts roared back to steal away a gritty victory, 19-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-22, 15-13.

The Blue Angels put forth a very balanced offensive attack with every player who saw court time recording at least one kill. Sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) led the way with a team-high 10 put-aways, junior Emma Carufel (St. Francis, Wis./St. Francis) added eight, and junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) and freshman Morgan Vander Kooy (Fond du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) each tallied six kills.

Freshman Emma White (Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro) distributed 25 assists and was a major threat from the service line, ripping a match-high seven aces. That service pressure kept the Blue Angels in business all evening, recording 18 total aces for the match. Ecker and Carufel each added four aces.

Freshman Ava Ramos (San Antonio, Texas/Marshall) led MMU with 26 digs with White and junior Jacklyn Mozdzen (Wautoma, Wis./Wautoma) adding 15 and 12, respectively.

Mount Mary (0-1) outblocked Alverno 6 to 2, led by White's match-high three.

Mount Mary will return to action Friday for the first of a two-day slate at Lake Forest College's Forester Invitational. The Blue Angels will play the host Foresters and Loras College Friday evening, before battling Marian University and Benedictine University Saturday. All matches are played at LFC Sports & Rec Center.