Notables
-Schermann matched a career-high with 18 kills
-The Saints had seven aces to the Yellowjackets' five
-CSS falls to 0-11 this season when dropping the first set
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – For the second time in two weeks, the St. Scholastica volleyball team dropped a five-set match to Bridge Rival University of Wisconsin-Superior at the Reif Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
How It Happened
The Yellowjackets (14-6, 9-1 UMAC) were in control for much of the first set, jumping out to a 10-3 advantage early. St. Scholastica struggled to accumulate points, never scoring more than two consecutively.
Brooke Schermann (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) was the bright spot for the Saints with four kills in the first set. Cami Sletta led UW-Superior to a 25-14 first set victory with seven points, including six kills.
The Saints and Yellowjackets went back and forth to begin the second set. They were tied 13-13 at one point with CSS getting contributions from the whole team. Following that 13-13 tie, St. Scholastica went on an 11-4 run, taking the lead 24-17. Included in that run were six UW-Superior attack errors, involving blocks from
Madissen Burns (Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS) and
Emily Udermann (Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount HS). The Saints finished out the second set on an Udermann kill following a 3-0 run by UWS. The final score of the second set was 25-20.
UW-Superior was in control throughout the third set. The Yellowjackets took a 10-3 early lead, much like in the first set, and didn't look back after that. CSS showed some battle down 23-15 when they took four out of the next five points from the Yellowjackets, but ultimately succumbed to UWS 25-19 in the set. The Saints were led by five Schermann kills in the third set.
CSS rebounded from the third set loss and started the fourth set quickly. The Saints went on a 5-0 run to take an early 8-3 lead. They controlled the tempo of the set much like the Yellowjackets did in the first set. UWS never scored more than three consecutive points in the set. St. Scholastica was led by aces from
Emily Bounds (Hill City, Minn./Hill City HS),
Espi Austvold (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer HS), and
Kelsi Rippberger (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) to a 25-19 fourth set victory.
After a 5-5 tie to start the fifth set, the Yellowjackets went on an 8-1 run to take a 13-6 lead over St. Scholastica. The Saints were led by a
Sofia Rajala (Deer River, Minn./Greenway HS) ace and two kills apiece from Schermann and Bounds. UWS came out on top 15-10 in the fifth set to win the match 3-2.
Top Performers
Schermann had a match-high 18 kills. Rajala added 10 kills. Udermann recorded a season-high eight kills. Austvold had 24 assists, while Rippberger added 23 assists.
Taylor Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) had a team-high 15 digs.
Emily VerWay had 57 assists for the Yellowjackets.
Up Next
The Saints (7-11, 5-5 UMAC) take on #15 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at the Reif Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
