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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Stephanie Bandelin
Jade Jensen

Volleyball Bryce Harp

Yellowjackets Win Border Battle in Dramatic Fashion

Box Score

Yellowjackets 3, St. Scholastica 2

Good teams find a way to win. The Yellowjackets put that on display Wednesday night when they faced-off in a border-battle match against rival St. Scholastica.

These two teams are very familiar with each other, having played against each other once already this season and multiple times in the past.  This time was different for the border rivals, as this was the first time that the Yellowjackets and the Saints had ever faced off in a UMAC match.  It was also Dig Pink night at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium as both teams and many of the fans in attendance were wearing pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

The night did not start off the way that the Yellowjackets hoped it would, with the Saints leading nearly wire-to-wire in the first set.  The Yellowjackets played very sloppy volleyball as they had five attack errors, three service errors, and two return errors.  The Saints dominated the offense in the first match with a .303 attack percentage to the Yellowjackets .132, as they took the first set 25-17.

The second set played out much like the first. The Yellowjackets taking an early 7-6 lead on a Jasmine Richardson (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) service ace only to see it slip away. The Saints went on to outscore the Yellowjackets 19-11 in the 25-18 win to go up two sets to none.

It looked as though the Saints might sweep the match as they came out strong in the third set by taking a 12-8 lead before the Yellowjackets called a timeout. Following the timeout it was as though a switch had been flipped for the Yellowjackets. With Ana Biscaia (Curitiba, Brazil/Colégio Positivo) serving the Yellowjackets scored four straight points to tie the set up at 12 apiece.  This time it was St. Scholastica that called the timeout to regroup.

The Yellowjackets would have none of it as they went on a run to take a 21-16 lead off of a Stephanie Bandelin (Esko, Minn./Esko) kill.  Both teams exchanged points the rest of the way before a Bandelin kill gave the Yellowjackets a 25-22 set win. 

The Yellowjackets still trailed the Saints 2-1, but the atmosphere of Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium had come alive following the set. It was almost as though the fans could feel the momentum shift and wanted to try and help fuel the Yellowjackets to a victory.

The fourth set started out the way the Yellowjackets wanted as they scored the first three points of the set before the Saints fought their way back to tie it up at three apiece.  After that point the Yellowjackets took control of the set, taking an 18-13 lead on a Bandelin kill.  The Yellowjackets kept the Saints at bay the rest of the way, winning the set 25-18 and knotting up the match at two sets apiece.

All of a sudden a match that looked as though it was going to be an easy 3-0 victory for the Saints was going into the fifth set. The atmosphere at Mertz Mortorelli was electric as fans for both teams where cheering, hollering, and whooping for their respective sides.

The fifth set did not start out the way the Yellowjackets would have liked, with the Saints taking and early 4-1 lead. The Yellowjackets fought their way back to a 5-5 tie following a Bailey Romans (Duluth, Minn./East) block.  The two rivals went on to exchange points with the score once again tied 7-7 following a Romans kill.

The Yellowjackets went on a 4-0 run to take an 11-7 lead following a Biscaia block. The Saints were not allowed to get any closer than three points the rest of the way as the Yellowjackets completed the comeback on a Bandelin kill to take the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.

Bandelin had a huge match for the Yellowjackets with a career high 27 kills. She also contributed on the defensive side with 10 digs. Romans, not to be overshadowed by her teammate, added 17 kills with a .483 attack percentage. Romans also led the team in blocks with five, including four solo blocks.

Ashlee Bayer (Cameron, Wis./Cameron) contributed 13 kills and two service aces for the Yellowjackets. Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) was her usual self, leading the team in set assists with 57. Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna) led the Yellowjackets defensively with 13 digs.

The Yellowjackets (14-7, 3-1 UMAC) are now 3-0 in matches that go to the fifth set, outscoring opponents 45-32. The win also extends the Yellowjackets winning streak to three.

Next up for the Yellowjackets is an October 9 trip to St. Bonifacius, Minn. where they take on UMAC foe Crown College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Stephanie Bandelin

#16 Stephanie Bandelin

OH
6' 0"
Senior
Mackenzie Dahlin

#12 Mackenzie Dahlin

DS
5' 7"
Sophomore
Emily VerWay

#1 Emily VerWay

S
5' 7"
Freshman
Bailey Romans

#11 Bailey Romans

RSH
6' 4"
Freshman
Jasmine Richardson

#13 Jasmine Richardson

DS
5' 4"
Sophomore
Ana Biscaia

#17 Ana Biscaia

OH
5' 9"
Freshman
Ashlee Bayer

#18 Ashlee Bayer

MH
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Stephanie Bandelin

#16 Stephanie Bandelin

6' 0"
Senior
OH
Mackenzie Dahlin

#12 Mackenzie Dahlin

5' 7"
Sophomore
DS
Emily VerWay

#1 Emily VerWay

5' 7"
Freshman
S
Bailey Romans

#11 Bailey Romans

6' 4"
Freshman
RSH
Jasmine Richardson

#13 Jasmine Richardson

5' 4"
Sophomore
DS
Ana Biscaia

#17 Ana Biscaia

5' 9"
Freshman
OH
Ashlee Bayer

#18 Ashlee Bayer

5' 10"
Freshman
MH