The UW-Superior volleyball team took on some tough conference competition on Oct. 26 when they welcomed Northwestern to Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. Coming into the game Northwestern carried a 73 match winning streak against Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opponents which dated all the way back to 2019.

Makenna Hohbein returning the volley against Northwestern at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
Photo by Andrew Mathews | The Promethean

The Yellowjackets got off to a hot start in set 1 with an early 5-2 lead the teams would trade blows but the Yellowjackets took an advantage of 20-12 before the Eagles would storm back.

The Yellowjackets would go on to take set 1 26-24 but set two would roll in the Eagles favor as they led for the entire set ultimately taking it 25-17. In the third set the Eagles and Jackets would trade points before Northwestern would take a three-point advantage halfway through the set but UWS would roar back taking the third set 25 22.

Much of the fourth set was dominated by Northwestern as they would take it at a score of 25-18 setting up the winner take all fifth set. In the fifth set the Yellowjackets would take a commanding 6-0 lead before Northwestern would have to take a timeout. From there the Yellowjackets would lead as they would go on to beat the Eagles 15-7 in the fifth and ultimately the match 3-2 and snapping Northwestern’s conference winning streak at 73.

UWS women’s volleyball team storming the court at 3-2 victory against Northwestern
at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
Photo by Andrew Mathews | The Promethean

UWS became the first team to beat Northwestern since St. Scholastica who hasn’t played in the UMAC since 2021. The upset sparked a lot of emotion for the Jackets as they felt the importance of the moment.

“To compete and go against such a competitive and highly skilled team, and take them down on our home court, it was very fun. The atmosphere in the gym was amazing. Not only that, but we also got to show what our team is made of, on senior night for our seniors,” said Colleen Claude, a junior setter for the Yellowjackets.

UWS now has its sights on the UMAC postseason tournament which another matchup with the Eagles could take place.