Yellowjackets 3, Northwestern 0
SUPERIOR, Wis.: How long has it been since the University of Northwestern Eagles have lost an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference match? The Yellowjackets weren't even in the U.M.A.C. at the time, and every player on the floor Tuesday night was still competing for their respective high school teams.
Dating back to October 5, 2013, Northwestern had won 65-straight matches in U.M.A.C. play. But like summer, or a bucket of
Sweet Martha's Cookies, all good things must end.
The Yellowjackets hit the floor at Mertz Mortorelli Gym Tuesday and played arguably their best match of the season, using a balanced offensive attack and stout defense to sweep the Eagles 3-0. With the win, the Yellowjackets moved into a tie for first place in the U.M.A.C. with the Eagles, but its Northwestern that maintains the top seed as it owns the tiebreaker over Superior.
It didn't look like it would be the Yellowjackets' night early on, as the Eagles won the first four points of the opening set before an
Ashlee Bayer (Cameron, Wis./Cameron) kill got the Yellowjackets on the board. The Yellowjackets kept punching away, and another kill by Bayer drew them even at 8-8. Bayer did it again one play later and the home team took its first lead of the night. The teams went back-and-forth from there, trading punches like a pair of boxers in a title fight. A Northwestern service error broke a 17-17 tie and the Yellowjackets never looked back. Another kill from Bayer gave the Yellowjackets a three-point lead, and they would hold the Eagles at arm's length the rest of the way.
Cami Sletta (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) came up with the kill on set point, and the Yellowjackets took the opener 25-22.
The second set unfolded much the same way the first did, with the teams trading points and the lead changing hands several times. With the set tied 19-19 the Yellowjackets took a two-point lead on a pair of Eagle errors. Northwestern answered and just like that, the match was again tied.
Taylor Howe (Webster, Wis./Webster) blasted a kill to the floor to put the Yellowjackets ahead 22-21 and they would pull away from there, taking the second frame 25-22.
Up two sets, the Yellowjackets, who have a propensity for going the distance, had no intention of letting the Eagles back in and seeing the match go five sets, or even four sets for that matter. The tight play continued in the third set, with neither team able to more than a two-point lead early. The teams again traded points, and leads and found themselves deadlocked at 12-12. Howe broke that tie with a kill and an Eagle error made it a two-point match.
Hannah Goggleye (Calumet, Minn./Greenway) registered a kill and another Eagle error meant the Yellowjackets pulled ahead by three, 16-13. The Eagles called a timeout, but coming out of the break the Yellowjackets stretched the lead, winning the next two points. Northwestern called another timeout and started to claw its way back into the set. The Eagles came all the way back and tied it 23-23, but Sletta broke the tie and gave the Yellowjackets match point.
Doranna Blascyk (Hoffman, Minn./West Central Area) then ended the match with a service ace, giving the Yellowjackets the set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
The Yellowjackets attacked at a .302 clip and were led by Howe who had 11 kills. Goggleye and Sletta were right behind with 10 and Bayer had nine.
Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) did normal VerWay things Tuesday, leading the Yellowjackets with 39 assists and tying for the team lead with 11 digs.
Karlie Leif (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) also had 11 digs. On defense Bayer had four blocks.
Up Next: It doesn't get any easier for the Yellowjackets (18-9, 12-1 U.M.A.C.), as they travel to take on Minnesota Morris Saturday, October 20. Game time from Morris, the current No. 3 seed in the U.M.A.C. is set for 3:00 p.m.
