SUPERIOR, Wis. – It's not uncommon for teams to play multiple volleyball matches in a day. College teams routinely will have multi-match days over the course of the year when teams are playing in tournaments. It's a little rarer, however, when teams are playing in conference play.

That was the scenario Saturday, as the Yellowjackets played a pair of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) matches on their home court, opening the day against North Central, before finishing with a showdown against Northwestern, who came into the day ranked No. 18 in the country.
 
The Yellowjackets made quick work of North Central in the opener, sweeping the Rams 3-0 by scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-13. In the nightcap, things were much tougher, and in the end, more rewarding. In a wildly entertaining match, the Yellowjackets went to five sets for just the second time this season on their home court and outlasted the Eagles to get the 3-2 win, with set scores of 26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-7.
 
With the wins, the Yellowjackets have now won seven in a row and 10 of their last 11 to move to 20-6 on the year. Their 9-1 record in UMAC play moves them into first place in the conference with four games remaining, all of which will be on the road for the Yellowjackets.
 
In the opener, freshman Makenna Hohbein (Holdingford, Minn./Holdingford) had a big match, leading all players with 14 kills, while Maiana Stark (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) had eight and Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) had five. Defensively, Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) had 15 digs.
 
Match Notes

• The Yellowjackets took charge early, grabbing a four-point lead, 7-3. From there the teams traded points until North Central closed the gap with a 5-2 run, cutting the lead to 16-15. From there the 'Jackets ripped off five of the next six points, breaking things open on kills by Stark, Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) and Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) and cruising to the set win.
• In the second set things were tight early, with the Rams taking the lead. The Yellowjackets battled back, using a kill by Oltmanns to draw even at 5-5. After trading points the Yellowjackets took control of the set, using a trio of kills by Hohbein to move in front 15-9. The lead would be at least five points the rest of the way and the 'Jackets pulled in front 2-0.
• Early in the third the Yellowjackets were up just one, 4-3, before going on a 10-0 run to blow it wide open. Gabi Schwirtz (Plato, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) got it started with a kill, and Savanna Hering (Superior, Wis./Superior) served the Yellowjackets through two North Central timeouts, to put them up 13-3. It was all Yellowjackets the rest of the way, as they took the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.
• The Yellowjackets had just three attack errors in the match, and none in the second or third sets.
• Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) had 20 assists and Schwirtz had 17.
• Addy Gangl (Nashwauk, Minn./Nashwauk-Keewatin) had two blocks, giving her 52 for the season.
• Four seniors – Anderson, Stark, Rilie Kupka (Eagan, Minn./Burnsville) and student assistant Brooke Sonnek (St. Clair, Minn./St. Clair) were all honored after the match for their contributions to the Yellowjacket volleyball program.

In the second match, the Yellowjackets put things out of reach with a hot start to the fifth set. The 'Jackets took the first three points, forcing Northwestern to use a timeout. They then won the next three, and Northwestern again took a timeout. Up 8-1 when the teams switched sides, the Yellowjackets held the rest of the way to close out the upset win and leapfrog over the Eagles into the top spot in the UMAC.
 
Hohbein again paced the Yellowjacket offense, finishing the match with 14 kills. Stark, Smith and Oltmanns each had 10. Anderson had 25 more digs, putting her over 600 on the season, as she continues to be one of the best defensive players in the country.
 
Match Notes

• The Yellowjackets took an early lead in the first set, but Northwestern fought back to make it close. The 'Jackets then took six-of-seven points build the lead back up and moved in front 20-12 when the Eagles called timeout. They came flying back, going on a 7-0 run and fighting off multiple set points to tie the it 24-24. A Hohbein kill put the 'Jackets back in front and an error by Northwestern gave them the opening set.
• In the second set Northwestern built an early lead, but the 'Jackets battled back. UWS got to within one, 11-10, but the Eagles went on an 11-3 run from there to pull away, taking the second set to even the match.
• The third set followed a similar script, but this time the Yellowjackets moved out to the early lead. The teams went back-and-forth, but the Yellowjackets were never able to build a lead larger than four. Northwestern drew even at 11-11, and later built a three-point cushion, 17-14. The 'Jackets battled back again, using a pair of Northwestern errors to pull back in front. Back-to-back kills from Smith gave the Yellowjackets some breathing room, and kills from Stark and Gangl closed it out, putting the 'Jackets up 2-1.
• Northwestern had the early edge in the fourth set, but again they weren't able to build a big lead. The teams swapped points until the 'Jackets, on a Northwestern error, took a 9-8 lead. It didn't last long, and Northwestern took six of seven points to build an insurmountable lead. UWS got to within one at 17-16, but that was as close as it would get and Northwestern evened the match for the second time.
• In the fifth the Yellowjackets collected kills to build a huge early lead they would never relinquish. Northwestern fought off one match point, but the Hohbein's kill closed out the upset win for the Yellowjackets.
• The victory was the first for the Yellowjackets over Northwestern since Oct. 16, 2018, when they won 3-0 at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.
• The win snapped a 63-match regular season winning streak in the UMAC for Northwestern.
• Claude had 26 assists, while Schwirtz added 18.
• Hohbein posted a double-double, having 13 digs to go along with her 14 kills.
• Northwester used its height advantage on the front line, posting 16 blocks,compared to just four for the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets are back in action Friday, Nov. 1 when they travel to Morris to take on the Cougars for a match with series UMAC tournament seeding implications. The first serve is set for 7 p.m. at James Gremmels Court.
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