ST. PAUL, Minn. – Cami Sletta (Willmar, Minn./Willmar Senior) tallied a match-high 22 kills to pace the UW-Superior volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to Northwestern Wednesday at the Ericksen Center.
 
The Yellowjackets fell by set scores of 25-17, 25-22, 27-25 and 25-19. UWS was the first team in a span of seven matches to win a set from the Eagles, ranked No. 7 in the NCAA's first regional rankings, released Wednesday.
 
Sletta hit .283 with four digs and two block assists while Hannah Goggleye (Calumet, Minn./Greenway) and Gina Baertsch (Farmington, Minn./Farmington Area) had seven kills apiece. Baertsch registered a team-leading 26 assists and Yana Carrera (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West Senior) totaled a match-best 35 digs.
 
Down two sets and three points from getting swept, UWS (12-16, 4-3 UMAC) battled back. A Baertsch kill from Megan Holz (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) cut it to a 22-19 deficit and started a 4-0 run for the 'Jackets. An attack error by UNW's Kalley Schwitters followed by a Sletta kill pulled Superior to within 22-21 and forced an Eagles' timeout. Out of the break, a pair of Northwestern errors gave the 'Jackets their first lead in the set since 13-12.
 
After another UNW timeout, the Eagles retook the lead on a Soleil Newland kill and UWS error. Another Sletta kill tied it at 24-24. Newland then gave the Eagles the lead one last time with a kill. From there, two kills by Sletta sandwiched a block by Teah Roszkowiak (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Tremper) and Goggleye for the win.
 
Northwestern (18-7, 5-1 UMAC) claimed the match in the fourth set, but not before the 'Jackets jumped out to a 10-4 advantage, scoring six consecutive points. Roszkowiak and Goggleye had a pair in the run. They each also put down a kill, as well.
 
The Eagles responded, tying the set at 13-13 on an Anna Gasch kill. They took the lead for good on the next point on a block by Kalley Schwitters and Gasch. UWS halted the run momentarily with back-to-back points to make it a 16-15, but another quick four points put the set out of reach.
 
UNW had 57 kills to Superior's 51 on the night. The Eagles also shut out UWS from the service line, not allowing an ace while garnering seven themselves. The 'Jackets led in blocks, 9-8.
 
Four UNW players tallied double-figure kills led by Gasch's 13. Sydney Schwitters posted a double-double of 51 assists and 10 digs. 
 
UWS closes UMAC play traveling to North Central Saturday at 2 p.m.