The Yellowjacket volleyball team traveled to St. Paul, Minn. on Friday night, competing in day one of the Macalester Invitational.  In the first match they would take on Buena Vista University out of Iowa, before a nightcap against the tournament hosts.

Yellowjackets 3, Buena Vista 1

The Yellowjackets dropped the opening set before surging back and winning three straight sets to cruise to the victory. 

The first set was close, needing to go to extra time before Buena Vista took the two-point win 25-27.  From there it was all Yellowjackets, closing out the final three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-21.

Kitty Tynen (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) (Stillwater, Minn.) led the charge offensively with 11 kills, followed by Nikki Gosson (Mankato, Minn./Mankato East) (Mankato, Minn.) who had ten and Salann Gilbert (Solon Springs, Wis./Solon Springs) (Solon Springs, Wis.) who had nine.  Gilbert's .259 attack percentage led the team.  The Yellowjackets as a team had an attack percentage of .095.  Keely Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko) (Esko, Minn.) had 23 set assists and seven service aces, both of which led the team. 

Defensively, the Yellowjackets had 73 digs in the four sets, with four players reaching double figures.  Farrah Wirtz (Esko, Minn./Esko) (Esko, Minn.) had 16 digs, followed by Erin Booth (Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville) (Baldwin, Wis.) with 15.  Tynen and Deadrick had 14 apiece.  Gilbert led the team with a pair of blocks.

Macalester 3, Yellowjackets 1

In the second match, the Yellowjackets fell behind early, dropping the first two sets.  They were nearly swept in the third.  After building a lead, Macalester came storming back and tied the set, before the Yellowjackets were able to close out the win.  The fourth set was a nail-biter as well, but in the end the Scots were able to put the Yellowjackets away and gain the win.  The Yellowjackets fell by scores of 21-25, 20-25, 25-23 and 22-25.

It was another strong match for Gilbert, who led the team with 12 kills and a .429 attack percentage.  Rachel Langer (Ellsworth, Wis./Ellsworth) (Ellsworth, Wis.) was next with nine.  The Yellowjackets saw a dramatic improvement in their attack percentage, jumping up to 14 percent.  Deadrick had 30 set assists, while Emily Cole (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg) (Grantsburg, Wis.) contributed 19.  Wirtz led the team with three service aces.  Wirtz also led the team with 22 digs. 

The Yellowjackets (7-3, 0-0 WIAC) will wrap up the Macalester Invitational on Saturday, September 17.  They will take on Grinnell College at 10:00 a.m. before closing out the tournament against Carleton College at noon.