SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Yellowjacket volleyball team commenced its third tournament of the year Friday afternoon. The 'Jackets opened the season with a four-match sweep on the road in Texas, and followed that up with a 2-2 performance on their home court last weekend in the Subway Stinger Classic.
 
Friday the Yellowjackets took on Grinnell in their first game, and then followed it with a match against Lewis and Clark, two teams they haven't played much over the years. In the opener, the Yellowjackets dropped the first two sets before rallying to tie Grinnell, only to fall 3-2 in the match that went the distance. In the nightcap, the 'Jackets rolled to a 3-0 win over Lewis and Clark.
 
Against Grinnell the Yellowjackets (7-3, 0-0 UMAC) struggled early, attacking at a clip of just over six percent in dropping the first two sets. They improved the attack percentage three-fold in the third and fourth sets to force the deciding fifth set.
 
Addy Gangl (Nashwauk, Minn./Nashwauk-Keewatin) led the Yellowjackets with 17 kills, while Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) posted 31 assists, the second time this season she had 30-plus assists. On defense, Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) had a season-best 42 digs.
 
Match One Notes

• The Yellowjackets came out hot in the first set, riding the serve of Claude to a 7-0 lead early. Grinnell stopped the bleeding and eventually tied the set at 13-13. Later, a Jada Anderson (Colfax, Wis./Colfax) kill fought off set point for Grinnell, but they took the final three to win the set 29-27.
• Things were tight again early in the second set before Grinnell took four straight points to move in front 12-7. The lead would reach seven before UWS battled back to cut the deficit. It was too little, too late, as Grinnell rolled 25-18 to move ahead two sets.
• In the third neither team led by more than point until the Yellowjackets took advantage of Grinnell miscues. Tied 8-8, Grinnell committed errors on three straight points to put the 'Jackets up 11-8. After falling behind, kills from Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East) and Maddie Hunter (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) punctuated a rally and put UWS in front. They would lead the rest of the way and take the set 25-23.
• The fourth set offered more of the same, as the teams traded points early. Gangl helped the 'Jackets build a 17-10 lead, but Grinnell would rally to tie. Like the first set, nothing was settled when a team hit 25. Both teams had a chance to close it out, but Makenna Hohbein (Holdingford, Minn./Holdingford) delivered the knockout punch, giving the 'Jackets a 27-25 win and evening the match 2-2.
• Grinnell took command early in the deciding set, taking an 8-3 lead as the teams changed sides. The Yellowjackets would come back to tie it at 14-14, but Grinnell took the next two points to win the set and the match.
• Hohbein and Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) would each have 12 kills.
• Saeger, Gangl and Hunter each had three blocks.

There was less drama in the second match Friday, as he Yellowjackets rolled over Lewis and Clark with little difficulty, sweeping the Pioneers 25-20, 25-19 and 25-20 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
 
The 'Jackets had a balanced attack in the second match Friday, with nine different players recording at least one kill. Gangl paced the Yellowjackets for the second match in a row, finishing with eight kills.
 
Match Two Notes

• For the second match in a row the Yellowjackets came out hot. In this one the Yellowjackets won 11 of the first 12 points to take an insurmountable lead. Lewis and Clark did fight back and close the gap, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 'Jackets, who closed out the set on a kill by Saeger.
• The Yellowjackets jumped out to an early lead in the second set, as well. They didn't build quite as big a lead early, and midway through the set fell behind the Pioneers, 13-11. Trailing 17-14 the Yellowjackets called a timeout, and came out on fire. Gangl contributed three kills and Saeger had kills on back-to-back points to close out the set and put the 'Jackets up 2-0 in the match.
• In the third the Yellowjackets picked up where they left off, winning five of the first six points in the set. The Pioneers kept it close before the Yellowjackets pulled away late. Sidney Bader (Milltown, Wis./Unity) delivered the kill that closed out the set and completed the sweep for the Yellowjackets.
• Bader and Oltmanns each had six kills, while Saeger and Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) have five apiece.
• Claude had 15 assists and Gabi Schwirtz (Plato, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) had 12 to lead the Yellowjackets.
• Anderson (18) and Claude (13) were the two Yellowjackets to hit double figures in digs.

The Yellowjackets will be back in action Saturday on day two of the Macalester Invitational. A pair of MIAC opponents are the docket, as the Yellowjackets will play Carleton at 1 p.m. and host Macalester at 3 p.m.
  Read Full Article