ASHLAND, Wis. – The Yellowjacket volleyball team has grown quite familiar with Northland College over the years. Since joining the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in 2015, the Yellowjackets and LumberJills have met at least twice, and something three or four times each season.
 
Tuesday marked the second meeting of the 2023 season between the familiar foes. A little more than a week ago the Yellowjackets opened the Subway Stinger Classic with a four-set win over Northland. This time around it looked like the Yellowjackets would get the sweep, but the pesky LumberJills took a set again, forcing the Yellowjackets to settle for a 3-1 victory at Kendrigan Gym in Ashland.
 
The win snaps a three-match losing streak for the Yellowjackets (8-5, 1-0 UMAC), who are now in a stretch of seven straight conference contests.
 
Junior Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) turned in a monster performance Tuesday, finishing the night with 13 kills and an attack percentage of .265. On the defensive side Stark turned in 22 digs, a career high. She also turned in a team-high two service aces.
 
It was tight early in the opening set before the Yellowjackets broke things open. Down a point, Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) supplied the kill that drew the 'Jackets even. Stark then served the Yellowjackets to four straight points to put them in front 8-4. The Yellowjackets built the lead to as many as seven points at 16-9, but the LumberJills came back and eventually tied the set 22-22. Stark and Plautz then had back-to-back kills to give the Yellowjackets set point, and a Northland error finished it off, as Superior took the opening set 25-22.
 
The LumberJills led for much of the second set, and opened up a four-point lead at 13-9. Sydney Bader closed the gap with a kill, and Lindsey Racine (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) followed with a service ace to pull the Yellowjackets to within two. Two points later, Plautz dropped a kill, tying the set 13-13. Stark followed with a kill to put the 'Jackets in front. The teams traded points and then Stark and Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) had back-to-back kills to give the Yellowjackets a 16-14 lead. From there the teams swapped points and leads until the Yellowjackets went ahead 22-21 on an Oltmanns' kill. The 'Jackets won five of the final six points to take the second set 25-22.
 
It was more of the same early in the third set, with the teams trading points. Northland led 7-4 before Stark turned into a one-woman wrecking crew, turning in three kills in a span of four points to put the Yellowjackets in front. Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) got in on the act, and she along with Stark helped the Yellowjackets open up an 11-7 lead. The 'Jackets pushed the lead to as many as five points, but Northland battled back, going on an 8-1 run to take the lead. They would never give it back and closed out the third set, 25-21.
 
The Yellowjackets put the pedal to the floor in the fourth set, leaving little doubt this would be the final set of the match. UWS took the first five points and in the blink of an eye led 8-1. The lead hit double digits when the 'Jackets moved in front 16-6. Northland wasn't able to close the gap and the Yellowjackets cruised to a 25-16 win in the set and a 3-1 match victory.
 
Plautz continued her strong play Tuesday, leading the Yellowjackets with 16 kills and a .368 attack percentage. Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) also hit double digits, registering 10 kills. Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) (23) and Lizzy Schmidt (Twin Lakes, Wis./Wilmot Union) (17) combined for 40 assists.  
 
On defense, Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) was her usual self, picking up a team-high 23 digs. Claude added 19 digs and Smith turned in five blocks.
 
The Yellowjackets will stay on the road and travel to St. Bonafacious, Minn. for a date with Crown College Friday, Sept. 22. The first serve is set for 7 p.m. at Wild Athletic Center.