SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket Super Series reached its fifth match of the fall for the Yellowjacket volleyball team, and as the series has progressed Team Yellow has begun to impose its will on Team Black.
 
The last time out, Yellow made quick work of Team Black, picking up the 3-0 sweep in just 70 minutes Saturday. It was a tough act to follow, but Yellow was more than up to the task Wednesday night, and in the process earned its third straight win and fourth in five tries over Black.
 
This time it took 78 minutes, but the result was the same as Yellow cruised to a 3-0 win over Black. Set scores were 30-28, 25-14 and 25-22.
 
In the early going it looked like Yellow wasn't going to have much problem with Black, as it won four of the first five points and opened up a 12-3 lead in the first set. Black had other ideas, however, and came roaring back, using a 6-0 run to close the gap to three points. They made it all the way back, riding consecutive Yellow attack errors to take a 16-14 lead. Yellow would surge ahead late, only to have Black draw even at 23-23.
 
The teams continued to trade points, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Then, with a 29-28 lead, Elise Ertl (Phillips, Wis./Phillips) came away with the kill to give Yellow the set and a 1-0 lead in the match. The opening set featured 12 tie scores and six lead changes.
 
Just as it did in the first set, Yellow took four of the first five points in the second set. It was a different story in the middle frame, however, as once Yellow took they lead it never gave it up. Yellow continued to win two points to every one for Black, and needed just 15 minutes to close out the second set and take a commanding lead in the match.
 
Yellow jumped out to still another 4-1 lead in the third set, but things would be much closer this time around. Black would quickly find some momentum and eventually move ahead 7-5 on a Maddy Cabe (Ashland, Wis./Ashland) kill. Black would continue to hold the lead until late, taking an 18-15 lead on a Courtney Reitmeyer (Iron River, Mich./West Iron County) kill. That's as far ahead as Black would get, and that's when Yellow would start its comeback.
 
Back-to-back Black errors allowed Yellow to draw even at 19-19, and two points later a timely service ace by Ertl gave Yellow a 21-19 lead. The teams would tie again at 21-21, but Kielan LaPlante (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) broke the tie for Yellow and Megan Holz (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) served up another ace to put Yellow on the cusp of winning. A Savanna Renderman (Altoona, Wis./Altoona) kill brought things to match point, and two rallies later LaPlante ended it, dropping the kill to close the set, a 25-22 win for Yellow.
 
Yellow employed a balanced offensive attack, getting 13 kills from Ertl and 10 from LaPlante. Holz had 29 assists. On defense libero Yana Carrera (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West Senior) was once again stellar, finishing with a match-best 26 digs.
 
On the other side Cabe led Black with seven kills, while Autumn Bremness (Cadott, Wis./Cadott) had six. Four players on Team Black had double-digit digs, led by Hailey Atwood (Big Lake, Minn./Big Lake) who finished with 19.
 
Team Yellow and Team Black will play their sixth match of the fall Saturday, November 7. The first serve is set for 12:00 p.m. at Mertz Mortorelli Gym. It is the final match before the teams begin their best-of-three playoff series.