UW-Superior tops MLC in 5-setter
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By Jeff Meder
Journal Sports Writer
NEW ULM -- Martin Luther College dropped a heartbreaker to the University of Wisconsin
Superior 22-25, 25-13, 25-27, 25-19, 15-9 on Friday in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference volleyball match.
On Sept. 23, the two teams played in Superior, Wisconsin, and the Yellowjackets won the match 3-1. UWS entered Friday's match with an 11-9 record and 7-1 in the UMAC, and in second place, while MLC (7-14, 3-6) is in sixth place.
"We had the momentum in a couple of sets, MLC head coach Emma Holzhueter said. "They had lots of digs, which meant that we had to work harder."
As a team UWS had a total of 54 kills, 52 set assists and 83 digs. MLC had 50 kills, 49 set assists and 79 digs.
The entire match could best be described as being close and points were hard to come by because both teams had to earn every point.
A mistake by the Yellowjackets gave the Knights their only lead of the fifth set, 1-0. Maiana Stark's kill tied it at 1-1. An MLC mistake gave UWS back its lead.
Kaylin Plautz's kill made it 3-1 for the Yellowjackets. Two plays later, Lauren Paulsen tied it for MLC when she got a kill.
Plautz got two kills over three plays, which gave UWS a 6-3 lead. Later, Taylor Brockmeier set up Plautz for another kill. Alexie Pryd's kill made it 10-5 for UWS. Paulsen's block gave MLC a point, which made it 13-8. Plautz got a kill, but Hannah Willems answered with a kill for MLC. Plautz got another kill. This one was the set point and it gave the Yellowjackets the match.
MLC had the momentum after it won the third set. UWS had its collective back against the wall, knowing that it had to win the fourth set in order to continue playing and force a fifth set.
The Knights led for approximately one-half of the fourth set. The Yellowjackets kept it close. There were seven ties and five lead changes. Lydia Feidt set up Willems for a kill, which tied it 11-11. Cassy Teff and Pryd answered for UWS by getting back-to-back kills. UWS slowly pulled away to win the fourth set.
The third set was a close one. It featured 11 ties and three lead changes. There were many battles at the net and a number of long rallies. The Yellowjackets led, but the Knights fought back and tied it at 16-16 on Abigail Winkel's block. MLC led for the remainder of the set, with UWS tying it one time during that stretch. Feidt's kill made it 26-25 MLC. Willems' block gave the Knights the 27th point and the set.
Whatever UWS head coach Lynne Deadrick said between the first and second set worked because the Yellowjackets jumped out to an early lead -- and they continued to build on it for the remainder of the second set.
Things looked good for MLC in the first set as the Knights led the entire set. One of the highlights for the Knights came early on when Grace Kieselhorst got three consecutive ace serves, which gave MLC a 10-4 advantage. UWS tried to stage a comeback, but it came short because MLC found a way to score and regain the lead. The Knights held off the Yellowjackets to win the set.
Paulsen led MLC with 22 digs and 15 digs. Naomi Bridgemen added 19 digs, Kieselhorst had 19 set assists with 12 digs and 10 kills and Hannah Foley had 10 digs. Kylie Wolf added 22 set assists and nine digs. Feidt had 11 kills.
Colleen Claude had 24 set assists and eight digs for UWS. Cassy Teff added 23 set assists and 10 digs. Hailey Atwood had 10 digs and Jenna Anderson had 25 digs. Pryd added 21 digs and 18 kills, while Plautz and Stark each added 11 kills.
MLC will host Northland at 11 a.m. on Saturday.