RIPON, Wis. – The Yellowjacket volleyball team opened the 2023 season with a split Friday and were hoping to pick up a pair of wins Saturday and head home from the Ripon College Classic on a roll, and a winning record.
 
Things started slowly for the Yellowjackets, however, and they were forced to settle for their second split of the young season Saturday. In the first match of the day, the Yellowjackets dropped a 3-1 decision to the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), before bouncing back to defeat host Ripon 3-1.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-2, 0-0 UMAC) will head home at the .500 mark and prepare for a handful of teams to descend on Mertz Mortorelli Gym next weekend.
 
Match One
In Saturday's opener MSOE jumped on the Yellowjackets early, taking the first two sets before the Yellowjackets won the third to cut the Raiders' lead in half. The 'Jackets had a run in the fourth set and appeared to be on the verge of forcing a decisive fifth, but MSOE got the upper hand late to defeat the Yellowjackets.
 
The teams traded points in the opening set. The Yellowjackets opened up a small lead, 8-5, but the Raiders quickly rebounded to tie the match and eventually move in front. A 8-2 run put MSOE in front 22-15, and despite a late charge by the Yellowjackets was more than enough to give them the opening set 25-21.
 
In the second set the Yellowjackets jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, but it was quickly erased by a 9-1 MSOE run that saw the Raiders take a 12-8 lead. The 'Jackets didn't go away, however, and a kill by Emma Crandell (Forest Lake, Minn./Homeschool) drew them even at 16-16. MSOE answered with four straight points and went on to put the 'Jackets away, 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The Yellowjackets again jumped on the Raiders early to start the third set, taking the early lead. A 7-1 run, punctuated by a kill from Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area), put the Yellowjackets up eight. That was enough cushion, as the Yellowjackets took the set 25-16 to cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
It was the same thing in the fourth set, as the Yellowjackets took five of the first six points. MSOE rallied, however, eventually tying the set at 8-8. The teams traded points, and leads for much of the set until MSOE went up 23-20 late. A Crandell kill got the 'Jackets back to within one, 23-22, but the Raiders took the next two points to seal the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
 
Crandell was the only Yellowjacket to hit double digits in kills, finishing with 10, giving her nearly one-third of the team's 37 kills. Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) finished the match with eight kills. Renay Rieder (Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake) and Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) each had 14 assists.

On defense, Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) led the Yellowjackets with 23 digs, followed by Lindsey Racine (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) and Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) who had 16 and 12 digs, respectively.
 
Match Two
The second match of the day for the Yellowjackets followed a familiar trend – another match where every set was tightly contested. This time things went the Yellowjackets' way, as they swept Ripon 25-22, 25-17 and 28-26.
 
Senior Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) led the way with a team-high 14 kills. The Yellowjackets had a balanced offense in this one, with 10 players registering at least one kill and the team attacking at a .240 clip.
 
The opening set saw the scored tied 11 different times, with neither team opening up a lead of more than two points. With the score even at 21-21, the Yellowjackets picked a fine time to go on their best run of the set. A kill by Crandell broke the tie. Stark followed with another kill and four points later the Yellowjackets took the set to move in front.
 
There was less drama in the second set, as the Yellowjackets went on an early 4-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. Another 4-0 run later in the set extended the lead to 13-7. The 'Jackets took five of the final six points to take the set and open up a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Ripon wasn't going to go away quietly, however, and it gave UWS all it could handle in the third and taking an 13-5 lead. Ripon kept the roll going, putting itself on the verge of taking the set when it moved in front by 10 at 22-12.
 
Then the 'Jackets got rolling.
 
A kill by Smith started the comeback. Smith followed with an ace and Crandell got a kill to pull the Yellowjackets to within eight. Ripon took the next point, but the Yellowjackets followed with a 7-0 run to pull to within a point at 22-23. Ripon stopped the bleeding and, in the process, gave itself set point, but the Yellowjackets had all the momentum and quickly pulled event. A pair of Plautz kills tied the set at 24-24, and then a Ripon error gave the Yellowjackets match point. Ripon countered, however, tying things at 25-25. Another kill by Plautz gave the Yellowjackets a second match point, but again Ripon answered. Tied at 26-26, a kill by Smith put the Yellowjackets back in front, and a Ripon error put an end to the set, and a thrilling UWS comeback to take the match.
 
Crandell had eight kills and Sidney Bader (Milltown, Wis./Unity) had seven to help lead the Yellowjacket offense. Claude had 20 assists, while Rieder chipped in 14.
 
On defense, Anderson led the Yellowjackets with 14 digs while Crandell added 11. In addition to her 10 kills, Plautz also had a strong game on defense, contributing six blocks.
 
Next up for the Yellowjackets is their very own Stinger Classic, sponsored by Subway. The Yellowjackets will take on Northland at 3 p.m. and Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. The full Stinger Classic, sponsored by Subway schedule can be found on the official tournament page.