UW-Superior 3, Northland 2 | 25-15, 25-18, 25-19, 26-24, 16-14

ASHLAND, Wis. (October 25, 2017) – In a tough bout with neighbor Northland, Superior would go five sets and come out with the win on the road in Ashland, Wis.

Superior fell behind 4-1 to the Lumberjills in the first set, but fired off four straight points, including two kills from Anna Ribich (Biwabik, Minn./Mesabi East), a service ace from Leah Nightingale (Dayton, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's), and a kill from Tawnee Jasan (New Prague, Minn./New Prague), assisted by Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley), to get a 5-4 Yellowjacket lead. Superior would fall behind again, but again fire back to get the lead a 9-8 after a kill from Mara Cameron (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids), assisted by VerWay, holding the lead to the end of the set. Ribich would get the final kill for Superior, assisted by VerWay, to get win.

The Lumberjills were in control in the second set, but Superior would threaten at the 13-13 mark as Brylee Colligan (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) got a kill, assisted by VerWay. The set would go to Northland 25-18.

Superior stormed back in the third set, jumping out 3-2 after a Nightingale kill. Two aces from Karlie Leif (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) would stretch the 'Jacket lead to 11-8, but the set would be continue to be tightly contested. Superior would take 19-18 lead after an error from the Lumberjills, and rattle off seven points, including two kills from Elise Ertl (Phillips, Wis./Phillips) to win the set.  

In the fourth set, Superior jumped out to 3-1 lead after a service ace from VerWay. Then they held the lead at 7-3 on another kill from Ertl, assisted by VerWay. Northland would make a comeback at 15-15 after an attack error from the Yellowjackets, and then again at 22-22 and 24-24. Northland would get the set win at 26-24, and tie the sets at 2-2.

In the decisive fifth set, Cameron would help the 'Jackets to a 5-3 lead on a kill, assisted by VerWay, but Northland found the lead at 6-9 on a kill. Superior would tie at 10-10 with a kill from Colligan, assisted by VerWay, and then get the 12-11 lead on a Lumberjill service error. After a Northland timeout, the Lumberjills found the lead at 14-13, which forced a Superior timeout. Ribich would come out of the timeout and tie the game at 14-14 to inspire a kill from VerWay, assisted by Holz, and a kill from Ertl, assisted by VerWay, to seal the set at 16-14, and the match at 3-2 Yellowjackets.

VerWay and Colligan would get double-doubles on the night, with Verway compiling a season-high 48 assists and 18 digs, while Colligan got 17 digs and 14 kills. Cameron added 10 kills, followed by Ribich with nine and Nightingale eight. Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna) lead the team defensively with 20 digs.

Superior will finish off their regular season this weekend in the Twin Cities, taking on North Central at 7 p.m. on Friday Oct. 27, and then Hamline at 3 p.m. Saturday Oct. 28.