SUPERIOR, Wis. – If Saturday was going to be the final home game of the season for the Yellowjacket volleyball team, then they sent the fans out on one heck of a note.
 
Trailing two sets to none, the Yellowjackets came all the way back, capping things with a dramatic win in the fifth set to dispatch Minnesota Morris 3-2, closing the regular season with win. Set scores at Mertz Mortorelli Gym were 21-25, 25-27, 25-14, 25-21 and 15-10.
 
The victory sends the Yellowjackets (12-16, 10-4 UMAC) into the post-season on a winning note, but it wasn't enough to bump them up into the No. 2 seed. Because the Yellowjackets lost to Morris 3-0 earlier in the season, the Yellowjackets needed to sweep Saturday's to earn home court advantage in the first round. The Yellowjackets will now have to go to Morris for the first round of the UMAC tournament.
 
Things started slowly for the Yellowjackets, as fell behind 8-1 in the first set. Yellowjacket head coach Lynne Deadrick called a timeout and the Yellowjackets were able to turn things around, going on an 8-3 run to close to within 11-9. Morris went on a run from there and regained an eight-point lead, but again the Yellowjackets closed, pulling to within three at 18-15. The teams traded points the rest of the way and Morris closed out to take the lead in the match.
 
In the second set things were closer from the start. The teams traded point early until the Yellowjackets went on a small run to pull in front 12-9. Morris quickly closed the gap, and the teams went back to trading points. The Cougars moved in front 18-17. From there the Yellowjackets went on a 7-3 run, getting to set point and seemingly on the cusp of evening the match. Morris had other ideas, however, as it won four points in a row to take a 25-24 lead. Morris took the final two points in the set to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

That's when the 'Jackets came roaring back.
 
As the third set unfolded Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown), Cassy Teff (Foley, Minn./Foley) and Alexie Pryd (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) had consecutive kills early as the Yellowjackets pulled in front 5-0. Errors allowed the Yellowjackets to increase the lead to 11-4 before Morris began to claw its way back, taking five of six points to pull within 13-11. From there it was all Yellowjackets, as they closed the set on a 12-3 run, getting on the board and cutting the Morris lead in the match in half.
 
It was tighter in the fourth set with the teams going back and forth. The Yellowjackets were finally able to gain some breathing room with the score at 10-8, going on a 5-0 run. Stark and Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) had back-to-back kills to push the margin to seven. Morris rallied to pull within three at 23-20, but the Yellowjackets held on, evening the match at two sets apiece.
 
In the fifth the Yellowjackets were fully in their groove. Stark started the frame with a kill to get the offense going, and Teff followed as the 'Jackets went in front. Pryd later had a kill, breaking a 5-5 tie and putting the 'Jackets in front for good. A 3-0 run, fueled by a pair of Teff kills put the Yellowjackets on the verge of victory at 13-8, and a few points later Pryd ended it, placing a kill to give the Yellowjackets the fifth set and the match.
 
Stark had a big day offensively for the Yellowjackets, finishing with a team-high 18 kills and firing at a .250 clip. Teff and Pryd each had 16 kills as the Yellowjackets attacked at a percentage of .159. Teff was just one dig shy of her sixth triple-double of the season, ending the day with 18 assists and nine digs.
 
Megan Holz (Savage, Minn./Burnsville Senior) had 30 assists and 11 digs, while Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) was a beast defensively, ending the day with a season-high 43 digs.
 
The Yellowjackets and Cougars will meet in the first round of the UMAC tournament Wednesday, Nov. 3 in Morris. The opening serve is set for 7 p.m.