SUPERIOR, Wis. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica volleyball team fell to the UW-Superior YellowJackets in five sets on Wednesday evening in the UMAC border battle contest in Superior.
 
The first set was back and forth, as each team went on a run to tie the contest up at seven. However, CSS would take six of the next eight points, pushing the score to 13-9 in favor of St. Scholastica. UW-Superior responded by taking four of the next five to bring the tally to 14-13, but the 'Jackets were unable to wrench the lead from the Saints in the first set. CSS would take the next four points, and despite a UWS timeout, cruise to a 25-17 victory.
 
The second set was much of the same, as the teams battled back and forth to a 6-6 tie. The Saints would go on the first run of the set, again taking six of eight points to take a 12-8 lead and force a UW-Superior timeout. The Saints would not look back from that early lead, as Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) and Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) would combine for six kills to lead CSS to a 25-18 victory.
 
The third set would prove to be the turning point in the contest. The Saints opened up a quick 6-3 lead, and again UW-Superior was forced to call a timeout when St. Scholastica stretched the lead to 12-8. However, this timeout would prove to be effective, as the YellowJackets would go on a quick 4-0 run to tie the game at 12 and force a CSS timeout. Unfortunately for the Saints, the UWS momentum could not be stopped, as the home team would take eight of the next 11 points to open up a 20-15 advantage. St. Scholastica would rally to within two points, but dropped the third set 25-22.
 
UWS would take a quick 3-0 lead in the fourth set, and the Saints responded with a trio of kills to tie the contest at three. Superior then took the next four points to open up a 7-3 lead. The YellowJackets would push the lead to 13-7 and never look back, as CSS fell in the fourth set, 25-18.
 
With the momentum shifting towards the home team, the Saints would come out fighting, taking an early 3-0 advantage. The 'Jackets rebounded to tie the set at five, and the teams would battle back and forth to be even at 7-7. However, UW-Superior took the next five points to take a commanding 11-7 lead. Despite the efforts of the visiting Saints, the home team took home the set and the match with a 15-11 victory.
 
Kortney Morrin (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS (Northern State)) led the way for CSS with 19 kills, followed by Noelle Elvehjem (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) and Amanda Belden (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) with a dozen apiece. Emily Kessler (Blackberry, Minn./Greenway HS (Itasca CC)) tallied 25 assists, while Emily Jansen (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) recorded 24. Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) was tops on the team with 17 digs, followed by Morrin with 13.
 
Up next for CSS (11-8, 2-2 UMAC) is another conference road contest, as the Saints take on Martin Luther College in New Ulm on Saturday at 3 p.m.