The Yellowjackets did not make it easy for themselves, but the University of Wisconsin Superior picked up a home-opening victory on Tuesday night, knocking off Finlandia University 3-1 at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

UW-Superior (3-8) fell behind after the Lions claimed the first set 25-23, taking the final three points to cap a come-from-behind victory. The Yellowjackets would take the reins from Finlandia (3-8) from that point forward, claiming the second and third sets by match 25-17 scores. UWS forced nine attacking errors by the Lions in the second set, and played a near-pristine game in set number three, hitting .394 with 15 kills and just two errors to jump ahead. The Yellowjackets backed themselves into a corner in the fourth, trailing by four as late as 16-12 before storming back with 6-of-7 points to take a 20-19 lead. The two teams would knot at 23-all before UW-Superior claimed the final two points and the victory.

Reigning two-time Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Setter of the Week Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.) collected 42 assists and 18 digs to lead the Yellowjackets, while a pair of attackers -- freshman outside hitter Brylee Colligan (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji H.S.) with 21 kills and senior right-side hitter Alexis Landherr (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti H.S.) with 14 -- shined on the evening offensively. Colligan hit .383 with just three errors while Landherr was at .324 for the game. Junior libero Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna H.S.) also had 14 digs for UW-Superior, while junior defensive specialist Jasmine Richardson (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) added 10.

FInlandia's Natalia Vazquez had a double-double with a team-leading 11 kills and 11 digs. Libero Jessie Diaz grabbed a game-high 26 digs for Finlandia, while setter Emma Nelson had 27 assists.

UP NEXT
The Yellowjackets will compete at the UMAC Preview this weekend in Morris, Minnesota. UW-Superior will take on the hosts from the University of Minnesota Morris in the opener Friday at 3:00 p.m.