MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University volleyball team is set for the opening of the 2018-19 season. After the team made some changes at the helm, with Natalie Balleto taking over as head coach, and added an assortment of new players, the Blue Angels are hopeful for the upcoming season which starts Saturday.

New coach Natalie Balleto comes to the Blue Angels with an extensive background in collegiate coaching. The Milwaukee native has worked around the country and all throughout the various divisions of the NCAA and NAIA. Along with a laundry list of accolades for the teams she coached and for herself, coach Balleto has also continually kept her teams' cumulative GPAs above 3.2 throughout her time as head coach.

In an interview with MtMaryAthletics.com, the new head coach talked about the present state of the program. "We are eager about the future of our volleyball program," added Balleto. "Right now, I believe we have a group that is committed to improving our culture and believe in the process of preparation. We know that with hard work on and off the court, along with dedication to each other, we will make huge strides this season!"

MMU ended their 2017-18 season with a 1-19 record. A long season that saw the team make strides each game. The Blue Angels were able to put an end to the 19-game losing streak in their final contest of the season when they swept Silver Lake College 3-0 in the Bloechl Center.

After the final game of 2017, the Blue Angels looked to replace the roster vacancies left by three four-year seniors from last season's roster: Payton Hintz, Rachel Barker and Sarah Amoroso. To the date of this edit, the Blue Angels are set to add eight fresh faces to the roster, while in addition bringing back Alessa Nelson (Jr./Rockford, Ill.) who played for the Blue Angels in 2016. Nelson finished second on the team in digs that season with 211, and played 71 of the 75 total sets for the Blue Angels in 2016.

Lauren Harris (Sheridan, Ill.) returns for her senior season, the Blue Angels was heavily decorated from the Association of Division III Independents in 2017.

Harris led the Blue Angels in nearly every offensive category and has been the offensive powerhouse for MMU all three seasons. The leading outside hitter finished last year with 109 kills on 425 total attacks and led her squad with 32 service aces as well. The high-flying outside hitter returns for her fourth and final season in the navy and gold looking to set a new standard for Blue Angels Volleyball.

Junior Adriana Nester (Anaheim, Calif.) also returns to the Blue Angels in 2018. Nester, along with Harris, played in every single set in 2017. Nester's grit and determination helped her finish the season third on the team in kills per set with .088.

The Blue Angels will then add eight new players to the mix for 2018. Varying in levels of experience, the Blue Angels have quickly added height in the front row with four players on their roster now hovering at or above five feet eight inches. Along with the height, the Blue Angels will begin the season with 11 players, adding depth and options for the new head coach.

In a contrast to last season, the Blue Angels will host a majority of their home matches at the beginning of the season. Later in the year, the Blue Angels plan to hit the road for matches throughout Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. To open things up, the Blue Angels will host their first game of the season in the Mount Mary Tri-Match at the Bloechl Center.

As the name implies, the tri-match will feature a combination of three matches on the opening weekend: two home matches for the Blue Angels and a neutral contest. MMU will invite Grace Christian University and Indiana University Northwest for the slew of matches set for Sat, Sept. 1 beginning at 10:00 am. All games will be streamed live via BoxCast and Facebook Live, check the schedule page for more details.

Check back to MtMaryAthletics.com throughout the season for updates on times, stats and player info. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and BoxCast.