SUPERIOR, Wis. – For the Yellowjacket volleyball team, Friday night was a long time coming. Friday marked the opening day of the 2021 Subway Stinger Classic, and a return to a six-team, two-court tournament, something that hadn't happened since 2017. This tournament was supposed to happen in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event's cancellation, making the 2021 edition all the more meaningful.
 
For the Yellowjackets, the first day's opponents would be the tournament's closest foe – Northland in the opener, followed by the tournament foe that traveled the furthest distance, Nebraska Wesleyan, in the nightcap.
 
And after getting swept in Iowa last weekend, the Yellowjackets got into the win column for the first time in 2021, defeating Northland before falling in four sets to Nebraska Wesleyan to finish the day 1-1.
 
Match 1
The opening match with the LumberJills went the maximum of five sets, but early on it didn't look like it would go the Yellowjackets way, as Northland jumped out to a commanding 10-2 lead. Northland continued to pour it on and moved ahead 18-8 before the 'Jackets began to claw their way back. With Megan Holz (Savage, Minn./Burnsville Senior) on the service line the Yellowjackets closed the gap to 18-12. It looked like Northland would close things out, leading 24-21, but Alexie Pryd (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove Senior) had other ideas, rattling off three straight kills to tie the set 24-24. That's as close as they would get, with Northland taking the final two points to win the set 26-24.
 
Northland would open up a 9-6 lead to start the second set, but again the Yellowjackets rallied, going on a 9-0 run to move in front 15-9. Kills from Holz, Cassy Teff (Foley, Minn./Foley) and Pryd pushed the lead to 19-13. Northland would get no closer and the Yellowjackets evened the match 1-1 with a 25-18 win.
 
The teams went back and forth early in the third set before Northland won four of five points to lead 11-8. A kill from Pryd tied the set at 17-17, but Northland won the next four points to put the set out of reach, eventually taking the frame 25-19.
 
Smelling blood in the water, Northland took a 4-1 lead to start the fourth set. From there, however, it was all Yellowjackets. A kill from Teff gave the 'Jackets a 7-6 lead. Later, up 13-10, the Yellowjackets exploded, going on a 7-0 run fueled three kills from Pryd to blow it open at 20-10. Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) closed it out with the kill, as the Yellowjackets rolled 25-11 in the set to even the match 2-2.
 
In the fifth set, the Yellowjackets picked up where they left off, moving in front 7-0. After the midpoint of the set Northland came roaring back, going on a late 6-1 run to make it 14-13. The fourth try at match point was the charm for the Yellowjackets, though, as they closed it out on a Northland error to win the set 15-13 and the match 5-3.
 
Pryd had a monster match for the Yellowjackets, finishing with 22 points and 19 digs. Stark had 12 kills while Teff had 11 to go along with 20 assists, as the Yellowjackets attacked at a .172 clip.
 
Match 2
The highlight of the tournament's opening day was the opening set for the nightcap with Nebraska Wesleyan. The set went back and forth, with neither team able to open up big lead. The Prairie Wolves made it a two-point set at 19-17, but the Yellowjackets got kills from Pryd, Teff and Rilie Kupka (Eagan, Minn./Burnsville Senior) to regain the lead by a point. The teams continued to trade points like prizefighters trade punches, with Nebraska Wesleyan reaching set point at 24-23, but a Stark kill tied it. The Prairie Wolves would have four set points in a row, but each time the Yellowjackets drew even. With the score tied 28-28, an attack error gave the Yellowjackets a chance at set point, but Nebraska Wesleyan tied it. The Yellowjackets three more tries at set point, but three more times they were denied. With the score tied 31-31, Pryd bagged back-to-back kills to give the Yellowjackets a marathon 33-31 win.
 
In the second set the teams again swapped points until a 5-0 run put the Prairie Wolves in front 15-11. The Yellowjackets would battle back move ahead 21-19, courtesy of a series of Nebraska Wesleyan errors. The 'Jackets were poised to take a 2-0 lead in the match when they got to set point at 24-22, but Nebraska Wesleyan took it from there, winning the last four points to take the set 26-24 and even the match 1-1.
 
The third set again was tight early before the Yellowjackets took four straight points to lead 10-8. Nebraska Wesleyan again came back and the match was tied at 14-14. The Prairie Wolves blew it open after that, winning 10 straight points and taking the set 25-16.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan took a lead early in the fourth set and then pulled away, going on a 5-0 run to lead 13-7. Another 5-0 run extended the lead to 18-8 and the teams traded points the rest of the way, with the Prairie Wolves taking the set 25-15 and the match 3-1.
 
Offensively the Yellowjackets were paced by Stark, who recorded 20 kills. Pryd added 16. Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) starred defensively, finishing the match with 36 digs.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-5, 0-0 UMAC) will close out the 2021 Subway Stinger Classic Saturday when they take on Concordia at 10 a.m. and Macalester at 2 p.m. For more information on the Subway Stinger Classic, visit the event page.