SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Wednesday night, the Yellowjacket volleyball team extended its season, advancing to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship match following a victory over Minnesota Morris. The win was a small upset – the Yellowjackets came into the match as the tournament's No. 3 seed, while Morris slotted in at No. 2.
 
Their reward, a date with the University of Northwestern, the 2023 UMAC regular season champion and the current No. 5 team in NCAA Division III.
 
The teams met twice during the regular season, with Northwestern winning both matches by a 3-0 margin. A win for the 'Jackets in the third meeting of the year, and they would punch their ticket to the first NCAA tournament in program history. A Northwestern win would mean the Eagles would return ot the tournament and hope to make another run to the final four like they did a year ago.
 
It was a tall task facing the 'Jackets, and unfortunately, the Eagles put an end to the season for Superior, while at the same time completing their unbeaten run through the UMAC.
 
Northwestern started fast on the way to a 3-0 sweep of the Yellowjackets Saturday at the Ericksen Center. Set scores were 25-11, 25-13 and 25-18.
 
In the opening set the Eagles jumped out to an early, winning five of the first six points. The Yellowjackets came back, and following a kill by Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) were within two, 4-6. The Eagles took off from there, going on a 10-1 run to blow the set wide open. Northwestern cruised the rest of the way to take the opening set.
 
The second set was close in the early going, with the teams trading points. Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) provided the kill that made the score 5-4, but Northwestern countered with another extended run to take a 12-6 lead. With the score at 16-11, Northwestern went on a 5-0 run to put things out of reach. The Eagles closed out the set to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Early in the third set the Yellowjackets pulled in front, showing Northwestern they weren't just going to give them the game. Kills by Oltmanns and Stark helped the 'Jackets go up 5-2, but Northwestern came back, going on an 8-1 run to lead 11-6. The 'Jackets used kills from Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) to get to within two, 11-9, and from there kept the set close. Never trailing by more than three points, the 'Jackets got to within 19-17 before Northwestern pulled away, taking the set and closing out the match.
 
Stark and a strong offensive match for the Yellowjackets, attacking at a clip of .333 and registering a team-high 11 kills. Plautz was next with six kills. Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) had a team-high 15 assists, while Lizzy Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) chipped in nine.
 
On defense, 10 different Yellowjackets had at least one dig, led by Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) with eight, while Lindsey Racine (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) had five.
 
The Yellowjackets close the 2023 season with a record of 19-11.