Falcons take WIAC opener from Yellowjackets

Alissa Autio with the spike.

Box Score

River Falls 3, Yellowjackets 0

On Wednesday at Mertz Mortorelli Gym the Yellowjacket volleyball team took to its home court for the first time this season, facing a UW-River Falls team that, statistically, was very close to the Yellowjackets.

And the first set of the match was just that - close, and fans in attendance settled in thinking they were in for a long evening in the WIAC opener. Unfortunately, the Yellowjackets dug themselves deep holes in both the second and third sets and the Falcons shut them out, taking the match 3-0.

It marked the first time all season that the Yellowjackets didn't win at least one set in a match.

The first set back and forth early before the Yellowjackets jumped out to a 9-4 advantage on the service of freshman Chelsey Walerius (New Prague, Minn./Tri-City United). The Falcons called a timeout and then proceeded to go on a 9-4 run of their own to knot the set at 13-13. From there the teams traded points like boxers trading punches and went into the 20's deadlocked. A Brooke Vonasek (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks) kill gave the Yellowjackets a 23-22 edge, but the Falcons rallied, scoring the final three points to close out the set 25-23.

After the teams switched sides the Falcons kept the momentum rolling and jumped out to a big advantage early. Raven Kline served seven straight points to open up a 12-2 lead for the Falcons. River Falls kept the Yellowjackets at a distance and went up 22-13 at one point when the Yellowjackets started to climb back into the set.

A kill by Alexis Landherr (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) got the comeback started. Landherr then took the ball and served the Yellowjackets to six straight points, aided by some River Falls errors, and suddenly the home team had pulled to within three at 23-20. It was too little, too late, however, and the Falcons mustered up the offense to score the final two points and close out the set 25-22.

In the third the Falcons again got things started early, riding Alyssa Anderson's service to a 5-0 lead. Down 14-6, the Yellowjackets picked up six points in a row to again close to within a pair, but once again the Falcons had the answer and rebuilt their cushion. The Yellowjackets started another rally, again on a kill from Vonasek and drew to within 21-18, but River Falls scored four of the final six points to close out the set, and the match.

Statistically the teams were close in several categories, but River Falls held a steep advantage in two - attack percentage (.207 to .108) and blocks (17 to 4).

Offensively Alissa Autio (Floodwood, Minn./) was the only Yellowjacket to reach double figures in kills, finishing the match with 10. Vonasek was right behind with nine kills and had the top individual attack percentage at .316. Keely Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko) had 31 assists.

On defense Lauren Peterson (Deer River, Minn./Deer River) had a team-high 12 digs, while Jessica Zimmerman (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) had 10. Deadrick, Zimmerman, Jessica Dvergsten (Greenbush, Minn./Greenbush-Middle River) and Vonasek had the Yellowjacket blocks.

The Yellowjackets (10-3, 0-1 WIAC) return to the road for a pair of conference match-ups on the weekend. On Friday they will be in Eau Claire to take on the Blugolds. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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