SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket volleyball team wraps up regular season play this weekend, beginning with a match against the Knights from Martin Luther. During both teams' last meeting in early October, it would take five sets to determine a winner, with UWS coming out on top. This time, however, the 'Jackets would rally and collect a 3-0 sweep of Martin Luther inside Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium Friday.
 
Friday's match also served as Senior Night for the 'Jackets, as Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) and Kielan LaPlante (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) were honored.
 
UW-Superior wasted no time Friday, taking an early 8-2 lead in the first set with kills from Plautz and Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown). The Knights started a comeback, but after kills from junior Emma Crandell (Forest Lake, Minn./Homeschool), sophomore Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and a service ace from sophomore Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool), the 'Jackets regained momentum. Crandell and Plautz provided the offense toward the end of the set, and along with a service ace from Lizzy Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union), helped boost the Yellowjackets to a 25-15 set win.
 
UWS began the second set cooking with gas, exploding to a 13-3 lead courtesy of Crandell, Plautz, Stark and Claude. The Yellowjackets continued to compile points off Martin Luther miscues and came just three points from another set victory, but the Knights kicked things into gear and started to catch up to the 'Jackets. Their luck would run out though as the Yellowjackets countered, and freshman Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) would deliver a kill to secure a second set victory of 25-16.
 
Set number three followed a completely different narrative, as Martin Luther began the set with three-straight points and leading 14-7. After head coach Lynne Deadrick called a timeout, the Yellowjackets got back on track and commenced a comeback. Kills from Crandell, Stark, and Smith helped spearhead a rally that saw the 'Jackets come out on top 22-18. After teams briefly traded points, the Yellowjackets secured the third set with a score of 25-20, securing the three-set sweep.
 
Plautz ended her evening with 11 kills, five blocks and 14 points. Crandell and Stark each compiled seven and six kills, respectively.
 
Claude picked up 14 assists while Schmidt tallied 13. Both setters also picked up service aces, as Claude served three and Schmidt one.
 
Defensively for the Yellowjackets Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) scooped 17 digs, Stark picked up 13, and freshman Lindsey Racine (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) ended her match with an even 10.
 
The Yellowjackets close their regular season schedule Saturday in a meeting with Bethany Lutheran. First serve inside the Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium is slated for a 12 p.m. start.