SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Following a strong performance in tournament action to begin 2025, the Yellowjacket volleyball team began Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action Friday evening, traveling to the Ericksen Center to face the Eagles of Northwestern.
Â
In arguably one of the most difficult venues to compete in across the UMAC, the 'Jackets stunned the Eagles in the first set, claiming a 25-18 victory. From there Northwestern got behind their home crowd and were able to power through sets 2-4, emerging with a 3-1 win to begin circuit play.
Â
Match Notes
- UWS maintained control in the first set early on, with early kills from Kate Jamtgaard (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids), Makenna Hohbein (Holdingford, Minn./Holdingford) and Sydney Smith (Milltown, Wis./Unity). Both teams volleyed points but Superior maintained the edge, picking up the win in set one.
- The Yellowjackets received their first four points off three Eagles miscues and a service ace off the swing of Colleen Claude (Centuria, Wis./Homeschool), but midway through Northwestern regained control and emerged with a 25-21 win.
- Set number three was much closer to begin until the Eagles were able to muster up some offense midway. With a pair of rallies, they were able to pull ahead with a 25-17 win heading into the fourth.
- Superior held within a couple of points until the Eagles utilized Yellowjacket errors midway through. Six consecutive points followed, featuring five kills and a service ace, leading Northwestern to claim a 3-1 victory on their home court.
- Hohbein spearheaded the kills category with 19, while Jamtgaard (eight) and Sidney Bader (Milltown, Wis./Unity) (seven) followed.
- Gabi Schwirtz (Plato, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) was responsible for 24 assists, while Claude finished with 18.
- Defensively Savanna Hering (Superior, Wis./Superior) and Hohbein led with 16 and 15 digs apiece, while Claude garnered 10.
Â
UWS stays in the Twin Cities to take on North Central Saturday. The opening serve is set for 1 p.m. inside Clark-Danielson Gym.
Â