The University of Wisconsin Superior gave the newly-minted No. 19 team in the nation arguably its toughest test of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference season, but the University of Northwestern (Minn.) escaped with a 3-1 victory at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
 
UW-Superior (7-20, 2-4 UMAC) picked up a victory in game three but could not get its offense going enough to knock off No. 19 Northwestern (25-3, 5-0 UMAC), who had previously not dropped a set in conference play.  The defeat unfortunately marked four straight for the Yellowjackets, while the Eagles have won 11 conescutive matches. After UNW went up 2-0 taking the opening frame 25-16 and the second set 25-14, UW-Superior took game three 25-18, holding Northwestern to a .106 attack percentage in the process. The Eagles fired back in game four, hitting .326 to close out the match with a 25-11 victory.
 
Freshman outside hitter Brylee Colligan (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji H.S.) led UWS offensively, collecting 13 kills on the night. Sophomore setter Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.) totalled 36 assists and 10 digs. Reigning UMAC Defensive Player of the Week, junior libero Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna H.S.) had nine digs while sophomore Kaila Meyer (Brownsdale, Minn./Hayfield H.S.) led the Yellowjackets with 11. Northwestern junior outside hitter Lindsey Peterson, the UMAC Offensive Player of the Week, had a match-high 26 kills while hitting .364 and also collecting 33 digs in the process. Last week's league setter of the week, sophomore Kaelyn Kilbo, had 21 assists while Leesa Hulstrand actually had a team-high 32 for the Eagles.
 
Northwestern hit .281 for the match with half of their  22 total attack errors coming in the third set. Outside of game three, the Eagles hit .350 with 53 kills.
 
UP NEXT
The Yellowjackets are on the road for their next two before wrapping up the regular season at home on Oct. 29. UW-Superior takes on Bethany Lutheran College in UMAC action this Saturday, Oct. 22. The Vikings edged out the 'Jackets 3-2 in Mankato on Sept. 23 earlier this season. Opening serve is set for 3:00 p.m.