Yellowjackets 3, Martin Luther 0
NEW ULM, Minn.: Throughout the 2018 season, and over the past few weeks in particular, the Yellowjacket volleyball team has shown a propensity for going the distance - that is playing matches that need the full five sets to decide the winner. So few could fault them if they wanted a match where they could breathe a little, and make an opponent disappear quickly.
The Yellowjackets got just that Saturday, winning the first two sets in quick fashion before surviving a third set with a little more drama to take care of Martin Luther 3-0 in a match that was completed in just over an hour. The victory was the second straight for the Yellowjackets and keeps them firmly planted in second place in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
Martin Luther came out hot in the first set, winning five of the first six points, but the Yellowjackets took over from there. The Yellowjackets drew even at 6-6 and then a Doranna Blasczyk ace, one of her four on the day, gave the Yellowjackets the lead. It was all black and gold the rest of the way as the Yellowjackets built a double digit lead during a late run. They finished by winning the last six points to take the opening frame 25-13.
The second set was all Yellowjackets, as they started out by winning eight of the first 10 points. Every time the Knights would take a point, the Yellowjackets responded by taking multiples and again built a double-digit lead. Martin Luther was never in the second set and the Yellowjackets cruised, winning 25-10 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set the Yellowjackets jumped out to a 5-0 lead and eventually built a big advantage. But in shades of Friday's fourth set at St. Kate's, the Yellowjackets saw their lead dissolve. Up 20-12, the Yellowjackets' opponent again rallied, with Martin Luther winning six straight to cut the Yellowjacket lead to two, 20-18. The 'Jackets won the next two points but Martin Luther responded, taking the next three to pull to within one. In the end the Yellowjackets prevailed, with
Anna Ribich (Biwabik, Minn./Mesabi East) and
Hannah Goggleye (Calumet, Minn./Greenway) combining on a block to take the final set 25-22 and the match 3-0.
Ribich was the only Yellowjacket to reach double figures in kills on the day, finishing with 10.
Taylor Howe (Webster, Wis./Webster) was next with nine kills. The Yellowjackets attacked at a percentage of .290 on the day.
Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) had 27 assists, helping her set a new personal record for assists in a season. She currently has 1,009 for the year. She also led the team in digs with nine. Defensively Goggleye led the Yellowjackets with three blocks.
Up Next: The Yellowjackets (17-9, 11-1 U.M.A.C.) return home to face Northwestern in a showdown of the top two teams in the U.M.A.C. The match will get underway at 7:00 p.m. from The Mertz.
