SUPERIOR, Wis. – Friday evening the Yellowjacket volleyball team fell in a close match to Minnesota Morris. With a quick turnaround, the 'Jackets welcomed the Polars from Crown College and picked up a sweep, winning 3-0 Saturday.
 
The opening set of the match was dominated by the Yellowjackets. With kills from Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area), Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) and Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River), UWS leaped to a 5-3 advantage. Stark would earn another kill and proceed to lead the 'Jackets on an eight-point rally, highlighted by two service aces and two kills from freshman Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East). Stark would commit a service error, but the Yellowjackets picked up right where they left off and sparked another eight-point stretch. The Polars would add another point, but UWS closed out the first set with two kills from Plautz, a service ace for Lizzy Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union), and the final blow from Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) to secure a 25-5 victory.
 
Crown jumped to an early 7-3 lead in set number two, but senior Kielan LaPlante (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) brought the Yellowjackets within three with a kill. Following LaPlante was the combination of Stark and Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity), which then prompted yet another eight-point stretch where the Yellowjackets took control 16-10. The Polars began to scratch their way back into the set, and came within two at 21-19, but junior Brooke Sonnek (St. Clair, Minn./St. Clair) registered a kill and guided the 'Jackets back on track. After two Crown mishaps the Yellowjackets found themselves winning the second set 25-20.
 
During the final set, the 'Jackets commenced the offensive attack with a kill from Ella Kapus (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine). After taking a 5-2 lead, UWS would notch a trio of kills and a service ace from freshman Kate Jamtgaard (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids). Teammate Sidney Bader (Milltown, Wis./Unity) would also get credited with two points, boosting the Yellowjackets to a 15-11 advantage. Crown would claw their way back into the match, but Emma Crandell (Forest Lake, Minn./Homeschool) picked up two service aces and helped lead the charge to victory, with Plautz securing the three-set sweep with back-to-back kills.
 
UW-Superior was led by Plautz's 12 kills, while Crandell and Jamtgaard each compiled seven. Jamtgaard also blocked four, while Lizzy Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) added 23 assists to her season total of 342. Schmidt also dug 11, while Stark and Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) each scooped 12 and 25, respectively.
 
The Yellowjackets are back at home Friday as they face Martin Luther on senior day. First serve at the Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.