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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Elizabeth Koza
Jade Jensen

Volleyball Jarrod Peterson

Spikers Drop Finale to Whitewater

Elizabeth Koza was one of three seniors who played her final match Saturday.
Box Score

Whitewater 3, Yellowjackets 0

Win or lose, the Yellowjacket volleyball team knew that their season was ending following Saturday's match with UW-Whitewater at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. It was a special day for three UWS seniors; -  Elizabeth Koza (Washburn, Wis./Washburn), Keely Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko), and Vicki Vinokur (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove), or "Mother Russia" as she has become known. These three have dedicated a lot to the Yellowjacket volleyball program over the years (two for Koza and four for Deadrick and Vinokur). Their hard work and determination didn't produce the results they had hoped for, but what they can't forget is that they helped move this program along, and that's what matters.
 
Kudos to the seniors aside, there was still a match to be played Saturday, and unfortunately UW-Superior came up short, losing in straight sets, 3-0, to UW-Whitewater.
 
The fan enthusiasm was very good despite a small crowd on Saturday. Despite losing the opening set, the Yellowjackets played the Warhawks tough. Superior fell behind 8-4 in the early going, but they chipped away at Whitewater's lead and eventually cut the lead to one point at 11-10. However, Whitewater went on a 5-0 spurt to take a 16-10 lead. The two teams traded points back and forth for the rest of the set and, despite a late 4-0 by our Yellowjackets, Whitewater won the first set by a score of 25-20.
 
In the second set, Whitewater took control from the beginning, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. Superior wouldn't quit though as they battled back to get it to a three-point Whitewater lead at 12-9. However, Whitewater proved why they are one of the better teams in the country as they took control of the set the rest of the way, winning by a score of 25-16.
 
The third set was the most competitive of all the sets in the match. It was basically back and forth the entire set. Whitewater held a 20-12 lead in the set before Superior put together one last run of the season, and the crowd got behind them and supported the effort they gave during the run. Superior went on a 7-0 run to pull within one point of the Warhawks at 20-19. Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna) had three service aces during the run. Superior managed to pull even with Whitewater at 22-22 after an attack error by Whitewater's Ariel Feiertag. Whitewater would respond though, scoring the next three points of the set to end Superior's season.

Vinokur and Stephanie Bandelin (Esko, Minn./Esko) led the Yellowjackets with five kills apiece. Anna Hendrix (Crystal, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper) and Alexis Landherr (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) each contributed four kills. Deadrick finished the match with 21 assists. Defensively Chelsey Walerius (New Prague, Minn./Tri-City United) led the Yellowjackets with 14 digs. She was the only Yellowjacket to reach double figures.

Whitewater was led by Feiertag with 13 kills, followed by Kristen Ruchti with 11. Kim Frei had 40 assists. The Warhawks had three players with double digit digs - Kelsey Nobilio with 14 and Frei and Tessa Weber, who each had 11.
 
Despite a rough season, Superior has something to look forward to in the future. A lot of young players will return to strengthen the squad. While losing three key pieces, both on and off the court is going to be difficult to replace, the future looks pretty bright for this team as they head into the off-season earlier than they hoped.
 
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Players Mentioned

Keely Deadrick

#1 Keely Deadrick

S
5' 10"
Senior
Elizabeth Koza

#11 Elizabeth Koza

OH
5' 6"
Senior
Alexis Landherr

#9 Alexis Landherr

MH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Vicki Vinokur

#24 Vicki Vinokur

OH/RS
6' 0"
Senior
Chelsey Walerius

#3 Chelsey Walerius

DS
5' 1"
Sophomore
Anna Hendrix

#5 Anna Hendrix

MH
5' 11"
Freshman
Mackenzie Dahlin

#8 Mackenzie Dahlin

RSH/S
5' 6"
Freshman
Stephanie Bandelin

#16 Stephanie Bandelin

OH/MH
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Keely Deadrick

#1 Keely Deadrick

5' 10"
Senior
S
Elizabeth Koza

#11 Elizabeth Koza

5' 6"
Senior
OH
Alexis Landherr

#9 Alexis Landherr

5' 9"
Sophomore
MH
Vicki Vinokur

#24 Vicki Vinokur

6' 0"
Senior
OH/RS
Chelsey Walerius

#3 Chelsey Walerius

5' 1"
Sophomore
DS
Anna Hendrix

#5 Anna Hendrix

5' 11"
Freshman
MH
Mackenzie Dahlin

#8 Mackenzie Dahlin

5' 6"
Freshman
RSH/S
Stephanie Bandelin

#16 Stephanie Bandelin

6' 0"
Junior
OH/MH