DULUTH, Minn. – The Yellowjacket volleyball team were back in action Friday, taking a short drive across the bridge for a match against St. Scholastica. Despite nearly a week from playing a match, the Yellowjackets made quick work of the Saints, earning a 3-0 sweep in just 64 minutes.
 
The Saints would score the first two points of the match and ultimately taking an early 7-4 lead. Helping the 'Jackets get back on track was Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area), who earned a kill and began a comeback to notch the match at 9-9. After both teams traded the lead and points, the Yellowjackets came back and put together a five-point rally which featured two kills from senior Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River). St. Scholastica would answer back with a five-point rally of their own, but ultimately UWS would come out on top, ending with five consecutive points and emerging as the first set victor by a 25-20 decision.
 
Set number two began with both teams trading the lead after scoring a few points. A kill from freshman Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) helped jumpstart six-consecutive Yellowjacket points, which featured Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) jumping in the mix adding two kills of her own. Despite a service error, UWS would extend its lead as Saeger contributed back-to-back kills to lead 15-8. The Saints would begin to muster a comeback, but a block from Saeger and Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) would shut down the attempt. The Yellowjackets continued to build on their lead and would eventually secure the second set victory 25-19.
 
The Yellowjackets dominated the third set, beginning the match with the lead and never letting go. After Saints' miscues, the 'Jackets piled on the points with Stark, Plautz and Saeger leading the offensive charge at 17-4. Late in the third set, senior Kielan LaPlante (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) joined the mix and picked up two kills of her own, as the Yellowjackets added another tally in the win column, defeating the Saints 25-11 in the third set.
 
Plautz and Stark each contributed 12 kills, while Saeger added seven. Freshman Lizzy Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) tallied four service aces and picked up 18 assists. Sophomore Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) finished the match with 16 assists, while Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) added 27 more digs to her season total of 361.
 
The Yellowjackets return to UMAC play Tuesday as they face Northland. First serve is set for Mertz Mortorelli Gym at 7 p.m.