SUPERIOR, Wis. – Both the Yellowjacket and Minnesota Morris volleyball teams entered Saturday's crucial Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) match on a roll.
 
The Yellowjackets had won two in a row on their home court to open conference play undefeated, having swept both Northland and Crown in the past week. Minnesota Morris, meanwhile, started the year 0-5 but came into Saturday having won six of their last eight matches, including a quick sweep over Northland Friday.
 
The match also pitted a pair of teams picked to reach the 2024 UMAC tournament, against one another, with the winner gaining an early upper hand on a possible home tournament match.
 
It ended up being a day where the Yellowjackets were firmly in control, as they rolled to a 3-0 win over Minnesota Morris on Youth Day at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.
 
By way of the victory, the Yellowjackets (13-5, 3-0 UMAC) sit atop the conference standings heading into a key weekend of matches on the road.
 
Sophomore Addy Gangl (Nashwauk, Minn./Nashwauk-Keewatin) and freshman Makenna Hohbein (Holdingford, Minn./Holdingford) were outstanding for the Yellowjackets, each finishing with 10 kills, a match high. Gangl posted an attack percentage of .500, while Hohbein attacked at a .400 clip. The duo combined for 20 kills and committed just three attack errors.
 
Match Notes

• The 'Jackets trailed the opening set 4-3 before going on a 5-0 run to move in front. Riding the serve of Gaby Schwirtz, the Yellowjackets gained an insurmountable lead. A 4-0 run late in the set made it an eight-point Yellowjacket lead, 20-12. Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) posted back-to-back kills to close out the 25-15 win in the first set.
• In the second set the Yellowjackets came out on fire, quickly jumping out to a 10-2 lead. That was more than enough, as the Cougars were never able to close the gap. Hohbein produced kills on two of the final three points to close out another 25-15 set win.
• Minnesota Morris came out fighting in the third set, and the teams traded points early. With the Cougars up 14-13, the Yellowjackets tied it on a kill by Ayla Oltmanns (Gilbert, Minn./Duluth East), whose point started a 6-0 run to put the 'Jackets up for good. Morris was able to stave off two match points, but Smith ended it with a kill, giving the 'Jackets the set 25-18.
• As a team, the Yellowjackets attacked at a .190 clip.
• Seven different Yellowjackets had at least one kill in the match.
• Schwirtz and Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool) each had 17 assists, tying for the team lead.
• In addition to the assists, Schwirtz also had a team-best seven service aces.
• Jenna Anderson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) was the only Yellowjacket to reach double figures in digs Saturday, finishing with 20. She has 20-plus digs in 14-of-18 matches this season.
• Smith had eight kills and led the 'Jackets with two blocks.
• The all-time series with Minnesota Morris has been even of late, with the teams going 5-5 over the last 10 meetings.

The Yellowjackets are back in action Friday, Oct. 4 when they take on Northwestern. The opening serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Ericksen Center in St. Paul.
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