SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket volleyball team ended this week with a three-set sweep of North Central University, Saturday afternoon.
 
The turnout for the game, consisting of family and friends who filled the Mertz Mortorelli Gym bleachers went away happy as the Yellowajckets picked up their fifth Upper Midwest Athletic Conference win of the year, beating the Rams 3-0. Set scores were 25-18, 25-17 and 25-22.
 
The first set started as a back-and-forth battle between the Rams and Yellowjackets. A kill by Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) put the 'Jackets up 16-15. Following a three-point run, the Rams stopped the Yellowjackets, only to have the home team turn around and make it happen again. After a kill from Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown), the 'Jackets went on a 5-0 run, making the score 23-16. The Yellowjackets would close it out and go onto win the first set 25-18.
 
The second set started to follow a similar path as the first. The 'Jackets had another 5-0 run early to make the score 9-3. They continued to rack up the points, winning the second set 25-17.
 
Compared to the first two sets, the third set truly was a thriller. The Rams broke up the Yellowjacket scoring by going on a come-from-behind 4-0 run, making the score 13-13. Kills by Stark and Oltmanns helped the 'Jackets gain some leverage on the Rams, as they moved in front 23-19. The Rams had a quick, two-point run thanks to attack errors by the 'Jackets, keeping the score tight. The Yellowjackets came through in the end to win the set 25-22 and the match 3-0.
 
The Yellowjackets led the Rams in kills, aces, blocks, assists, digs and points. Leading the Yellowjackets in kills was Stark with 10, while Oltmanns had nine and Kaylin Plautz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) added seven. Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) had a team-high 25 assists.
 
North Central also had impressive offensive numbers. Their kill leader, Sydney Carlson had a match-high 13, followed by Lola Huhta and Hailey Lerfald who had seven and four, respectively.
 
Defensively the Yellowjackets were balanced, with eight different players registering digs. Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) led the 'Jackets with 10, followed by Emma Crandell (Forest Lake, Minn./Homeschool) who had nine and Plautz who had eight. Plautz also had three blocks.
 
With the conclusion of the match, the Yellowjackets are now 10-7 on the year and 3-2 in UMAC play. The Yellowjackets' next game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6 against Bethany Lutheran College, with the next home game occurring Oct. 17 versus Northland College.