SUPERIOR, Wis. - Of all the matches on the 2026 UMAC volleyball schedule, perhaps none were more anticipated than Friday night's tilt between the (RV) University of Northwestern and the University of Wisconsin-Superior. UNW and UWS were the top two teams in the conference the past two seasons, and were projected to be so once again this year. Despite the Yellowjackets getting the first of two 2026 meetings at home, the Eagles were able to ride
Ana Egge's (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian) 21 kills and take care of business to earn the road sweep, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21. Of Northwestern's nine wins this season, eight have been sweeps.
The beginning of set one was tight, until UNW ripped off a 7-0 run to open up a commanding, 13-4 lead. UW-Superior was able to recover enough to pull within five at 16-11, but an Egge kill and a block from
Emma Sip (Rogers, Minn./Rogers) and
Norah Jaeb (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) made it 20-12, Eagles, a near-insurmountable lead. Egge added two more kills down the stretch, and a block from
Anna Olsen (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) and
Miranda Wyatt (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan Christian) closed out the opening frame, 25-17.
The 'Jackets came out with a vengeance in the second set, taking a 10-7 lead despite three more Egge kills and an
Elese Paplow (Lakefield, Minn./Jackson County Central) ace. The margin stayed at three, at 14-11, but UWS couldn't keep Northwestern down for long; a 6-0 surge had the home faithful at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium stunned as the visitors took a 17-14 lead. Egge had all three kills in the sequence. Superior was able to settle down and tie the set at 20, but a 4-0 spurt moments later, sparked by one Wyatt kill and two from--you guessed it--Egge, gave UNW a 25-21 win.
Down two sets to zero, the Yellowjackets did not hang their heads and give up. The hosts took a quick, 5-3 lead in set three, which was quickly erased by the Eagles, who got one kill apiece from Olsen and
Anja Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) to take a 7-5 advantage. After some back-and-forth, Northwestern 's lead increased to 15-11, thanks to kills from Jarchow, Jaeb and Egge, plus an ace from
Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland), who returned from injury to make her 2026 debut on Friday. UW-Superior fought back to draw even at 16, but a pair of Olsen kills and an
Addeson Jenniges (Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove) ace gave the Eagles a 20-17 edge. That margin was enough to get UNW to the finish line, as Moravchik picked up another ace, and Egge pounded home her 20th and 21st kills of the match to finish off the sweep with another 25-21 win.
Northwestern was once again powered by Egge, who hit .452 and recorded 21 kills for the third time this season, and the second time in a three-setter. Olsen logged seven kills and two blocks, while Jarchow chipped in six kills.
Libby Weckman (Shakopee, Minn./Southwest Christian) produced a match-high 13 digs to go along with 12 assists, while Jenniges led both teams with 19 assists, adding an ace. Paplow and Moravchik each aced the 'Jackets twice, with the latter adding nine digs.
Alana Costello (Mead, Colo./Mead) logged nine digs as well, and added nine assists.
UNW will have another big-time match on its plate Wednesday night when it travels to No. 3 UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday, September 30th. It will be the third top-10 team the Eagles have played in 12 days. First serve in Eau Claire is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
