ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern volleyball team welcomed UW-Superior to the Ericksen Center for Wednesday night Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action. The Eagles were eager to bounce back after the Yellowjackets ended UNW's 65-match conference win streak last season. Northwestern did just that, defeating Superior in four sets with scores of 25-17, 25-22, 25-27 and 25-19. The win locked up a UMAC playoff berth for the Eagles.
 
Northwestern, who received a no. 7 ranking in the NCAA Central Region announced Wednesday, improves to 18-7 on the year, 5-1 in the UMAC. UW-Superior falls to 12-16 overall, 4-3 in conference action.
 
In what started as a close first set, Northwestern broke away after putting together a 5-0 run to lead 13-8 and never looked back. They hit .229 to the Yellowjackets' .085 in the set. Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACRAY) recorded her 2,000th career assist on a dish to her cousin, Kalley Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./Central Christian) in the first set. Just a sophomore, Sydney already joins the list of just nine UNW players who have reached the 2,000 career assist mark.
 
Northwestern took set two, 25-22 after being led offensively by Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) who recorded four kills in the set. Set three turned into an all-out battle that the Yellowjackets came out on top of (27-25).
 
The Eagles were ready to end it in the fourth, hitting a consistent .268 average to take the match 3-1. Another night of aggressive serving gave the Eagles an edge. UNW downed seven aces (led by Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) with three), while Superior finished with zero.
 
Four Eagles recorded double-digit kill totals led by UMAC Offensive Player of the Week, Anna Gasch (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock), who finished with 13. Jenay Fuglestad (Maple Grove, Minn./Heritage Christian) and Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) added 12, while Soleil Newland (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids - Rice) finished with 11.
 
Sydney Schwitters (Clara City, Minn./MACRAY) dished out 51 assists in the four-setter and Marylyn Schroyer (Ft. Collins, Colo./Ft. Collins) picked up a team-high 26 digs. Sydney added another double-double on the year, tacking on 10 digs on the night.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Friday, Oct. 25 when they host St. Mary's University in a non-conference match. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. in the Ericksen Center.
 
Follow Northwestern volleyball online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram and Twitter at @unwvb.