UWS Volleyball Survives Macalester Thriller Before Falling to Carleton

The squeak of rubber on polished wood echoed through the St. Paul arena as Wisconsin-Superior rallied in the fifth set. Facing Macalester on Saturday, the Yellowjackets dug deep, turning a precarious four-set battle into a hard-fought 3-2 victory. Makenna Hohbein drove the offense forward with fifteen kills, her arm swinging in a blur as the team fought against a tide of fourteen aces from the Scots. The air was thick with tension, the net a barrier that both sides hammered against, but UWS held the line just long enough to take the match.

The win was a testament to grit, especially with the team’s hitting percentage hovering at a modest .131. Savanna Hering, a Superior High School alum, anchored the defense with twenty-five digs, her hands steady under the pressure of every serve. Melissa Hoff added a physical touch with six blocks, her body a wall against the opposing attacks. For a moment, the five-game winning streak felt unbreakable, the crowd’s noise a backdrop to a team finding its rhythm in a hostile environment.

The Winning Streak Breaks

That rhythm dissolved in the tournament finale. Carleton’s Knights arrived with a sharper edge, and the Yellowjackets found themselves outgunned in a 3-1 defeat. The scoreboard told a story of missed connections and missed opportunities, with UWS recording eleven fewer kills than their opponents. Hohbein and Sydney Smith each managed nine kills, but the volume was not enough to overcome the structural gap in the game. The frustration was palpable, the net feeling like a chasm that could not be bridged.

The loss snapped a season-opening run that had defined the early fall. It was a sobering end to a weekend that had started with high hopes and ended with a hard look at the work still required. The team’s focus now shifts to the upcoming Stinger Classic, a home tournament where the noise of the crowd will once again surround them, offering a chance to reset the narrative.

Friday’s Victory Over Hamline

Prior to the Macalester showdown, UWS had already secured a four-set win over Hamline on Friday. The game was a display of sustained pressure, with the Yellowjackets dropping the first set before taking three straight to close it out. Hohbein led the charge again with fifteen kills, while Carlie Lohman and Hering provided the defensive backbone with eighteen assists and twenty-two digs, respectively. The team’s ability to adapt and maintain focus through the sets was evident, even as they navigated the early season grind.

Soccer Struggles Continue

On the soccer field, the week brought different challenges. The men’s team faced two tough MIAC opponents, falling to Saint John’s and Gustavus Adolphus. Henry Ruhland made ten saves against Saint John’s, but a late goal in the 67th minute proved decisive. Against Gustavus, the Gusties controlled the pace, with Kieran Mahan scoring a hat trick in the first half. The Yellowjackets remain goalless in the 2026 season after a shutout loss to Macalester, with Baylee Nygard making eight saves in a 3-0 defeat. The path forward requires a shift in momentum, both in the air and on the ground, as the season progresses.