SUPERIOR, Wis. – Conference action resumed for the Yellowjacket volleyball team, taking on Martin Luther College Saturday. Five of the last six Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) matches have favored UWS, and the same narrative played out against the Knights.
 
It took the 'Jackets four sets to earn a victory inside the Mertz, but they got the job done, defeating MLC 3-1 for their sixth victory in the last seven conference matches.
 
Match Notes

• Martin Luther struck first, leaping out to a 5-2 lead. Addy Gangl (Nashwauk, Minn./Nashwauk-Keewatin) got the 'Jackets rolling, though, starting an 11-point rally to lead 13-5. Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) grabbed three kills in the rally, including a service ace from Gabi Schwirtz (Plato, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake).
• A bundle of Knights' miscues placed UWS with a 20-7 lead. Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) notched a kill to bring the score to 21-8, while three consecutive attacking errors placed UWS within one. The Knights scored two points, but a MLC attacking error gave the Yellowjackets a 25-10 win.
• Things tightened up in the second set, with UW-Superior emerging with an early 5-3 lead. Smith, alongside Gangl and Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) helped aid the early push before a combination of MLC kills and UWS miscues caused a lead change.
• Teams traded the lead and points midway through the second. Three consecutive attacking errors gave the Yellowjackets a 14-11 advantage, then Kate Jamtgaard (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) logged a kill from Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) to extend their lead.
• The Knights fired back, however, knotting things up at 18-18. Five straight Yellowjacket points gave UWS the momentum it needed to win 25-19.
• Set number three was the closest set of the match, featuring four lead changes and 11 instances where the score was tied. Smith and Jamtgaard logged the first two points for the 'Jackets, but the Knights kept things close until a five-point rally saw the first MLC lead at 11-9.
• UW-Superior answered back with four points, but Martin Luther responded with scattered points before embarking on a five-point rally to lead 23-19. UWS came within two at 24-22, but a Yellowjacket attack error saw them lose their first conference set 25-22.
• Set number four saw the home squad up 4-0, with kills from Oltmanns and Smith. The 'Jackets maintained control midway through at 13-8 before the Knights clawed back, scoring four points and coming within one at 13-12.
• From there, UWS never lost the lead again. Stark and Saeger, along with Gangl helped aid the Yellowjacket offense. Despite the Knights returning points sparingly, the 'Jackets earned a 3-1 match victory with a 25-20 set win.
• Gangl, Smith and Stark finished with ten, nine and eight kills, respectively.
• The Yellowjackets were responsible for all nine blocks in the match.
• UWS finished with an attacking percentage of .262, seeing their best margin in the second set (.273).

 
The Yellowjackets have six days before their next match, where they take on bridge-rival St. Scholastica. The opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Mertz.
  Read Full Article