The University of Wisconsin Superior competed at the two-day Upper Midwest Athletic Conference preview tournament in Morris, Minnesota on Friday afternoon, falling to the University of Minnesota Morris in the opening match 3-0 and then to Martin Luther College 3-2 in the nightcap.

In the first match of the day for the Yellowjackets, UW-Superior (3-10) squared off with the host Cougars, falling in straight sets 25-18, 25-16, and 25-10. The Yellowjackets held the lead in game one, up 11-7 before UM-Morris came back by scoring 6-of-7 points, up 13-12. The Cougars then leapt forward with a six-point run to take the first set. Another significant run, this time nine points put them ahead in the second set. UWS outscored UMM down the stretch 11-10, but it was too late as the Cougars claimed the second set. Another significant run pushed Morris over the top, this time dropping 11 consecutive scores to claim the final set.

UW-Superior hit just .036 with 21 errors on the day while Morris had just 11 errors and hit .316. Senior right-side hitter Alexis Landherr (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti H.S.) had seven kills to lead the Yellowjackets, while the Cougars' Morgan Miller scored 20 to go with five blocks. Sophomore setter Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley H.S.) still had a double-double with 18 assists and a team-high 12 digs.

Martin Luther 3, UW-Superior 2
Despite taking the opening set of its second match 25-20, UW-Superior was forced to make a comeback after falling behind 2-1 with Martin Luther eking out close victories of 25-18 and 25-22. The Yellowjackets claimed game four 25-21 to force a decisive fifth set, but the Knights stood their ground, taking the final set 15-10 to earn the victory.

UP NEXT
UW-Superior will have another tough test to start day two at the tournament, taking on the No. 25 University of Northwestern (Minn.) in the opener. That match is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.