RIPON, Wis. – Friday the Yellowjacket volleyball team lost twice in their first contests of the 2025 campaign. Saturday they looked to turn things around, taking on Emmaus and tournament host Ripon.
After falling in the first set to the Eagles, Superior went on to earn its first win of the new year by a 3-1 decision. The same fate would fall for the Yellowjackets in their second of two matches, falling 25-14 to the Red Hawks before securing second, third and fourth set wins inside the Doc Weiske Memorial Gymnasium.
Match One Notes
- The first set was filled with multiple consecutive point streaks from both squads. With two rallies with five and seven points for the Eagles, they ultimately came away with an early 25-23 win.
- From there Superior began to settle in. After early points were traded and Emmaus trailed by one at 15-14, they dominated the second set with 10 consecutive points. Kate Jamtgaard (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids), alongside Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity) and Makenna Hohbein (Holdingford, Minn./Holdingford) paced the attack.
- The 'Jackets leaped ahead 8-2 in the third and didn't look back. Chesney Phillipp (Jacksonville, N.C./Holdingford), Marena Saeger (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) and Katlyn Jones (Bloomer, Wis./Bloomer) all contributed early on their way to a 25-12 win.
- The Eagles held an early advantage in the fourth set, but with the help of Jamtgaard, Carlie Lohman (South Range, Wis./Superior) and Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool), they came out on top with a 25-20 victory to win the match.
- Claude paced defensively with 22 digs, while Gabi Schwirtz (Plato, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) accumulated 22 assists and Lohman logged 15. Hohbein was the lone Yellowjacket with double-digit kills at 13.
Match Two Notes
- In their final match of the tournament, the Yellowjackets faced off against Ripon. In the first set, the Red Hawks utilized Superior miscues and took advantage. UWS rattled five straight points after being down 23-9, but Ripon was able to register back-to-back kills to win set one 25-14.
- Throughout the entire second set, both teams volleyed the lead. Smith, Hohbein and Lohman aided the offensive attack until Ripon tied things at 18-18. As more back-and-forth action ensued, the Red Hawks committed attack and service errors to give Superior the set win.
- Neither team was able to shake the other early in the third set. Jones, alongside Kyndra Peterson (Mounds View, Minn./Irondale) and Melissa Hoff (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) helped Superior take 16-11 lead and they rolled to a 25-17 third set victory.
- The Yellowjackets got ahead early courtesy of three attack errors. From there they continued to power ahead, and with Hohbein, Jones and Savanna Hering (Superior, Wis./Superior), Superior came away with the match after winning the fourth 25-18.
- Hering logged 25 digs while Gabi Schwirtz (Plato, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) had 13. Hohbein logged a double-double with 17 kills and 12 digs in the match.
- Hoff, Saeger and Jones combined for a total of 13 blocks.
- Following the conclusion of the tournament, Hohbein was named to the Ripon College Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Yellowjackets will now prepare for the Saint Paul Tournament, hosted by Hamline and St. Catherine. Their first match is set for 4 p.m. against Wartburg.
