ST. PAUL, Minn.--– The opening round of the 2025 UMAC Volleyball Tournament took place on Wednesday night as four teams competed in a pair of semifinal contests. The No. 1 seed Northwestern and No. 2 UW-Superior won its games to advance to the championship.
 
SEMIFINAL: No. 1 Northwestern def. No. 4 Minnesota Morris 3-0
| Box Score | 
Northwestern (22-7 overall, 12-0 UMAC) hosted Minnesota Morris (13-12, 7-5) for its semifinal match. The Eagles swept the Cougars 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, and 25-17).

Northwestern had three players finish with double digit kills as Ana Egge had 12, Anna Olsen and Marley Aune each had 11.  Aune recorded a scorching .529 hitting percentage and Olsen was closely behind with her stellar .526.

Addeson Jenniges had 37 assists running the team’s offense and added two service aces. Ella Bourne led the defense with 10 digs.

The Eagles opened the first set on a 12-2 run and later led 24-10. Northwestern earned the opening set win on a kill from Anja Jarchow.

A different story played out in the second frame as neither team opened a lead until the Cougars pulled ahead 10-7. They continued to lead until UNW knotted it at 19 all, and would be tied again at 20-20. The Eagles compiled a 5-3 run to take the second frame.

The final set was close again until UNW took the 13-12 lead, which it did not relinquish. The Eagles went on a 12-5 run to take the set and match.

UNW owned most of the team advantages, but the service aces were tied at six each.
 
SEMIFINAL: No. 2 UW-Superior def. No. 3 Bethany Lutheran 3-0
| Box Score | 

UW-Superior (21-11 overall, 9-3 UMAC) hosted Bethany Lutheran (16-12, 8-4) for its semifinal match. The Yellowjackets swept the Vikings 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, and 26-24).

Makenna Hohbein paced UWS with 10 kills and finished with a double double as she added 13 digs. Sydney Smith finished just shy of double figures with nine kills, but hit an impressive .467 attack percentage.

Colleen Claude recorded 16 assists and a double double of her own with 12 digs. Savanna Hering was the third player in double digit digs with a team-best 14.

UW-Superior opened the first two sets on 10-4 runs and later took a 2-0 match lead.

The third set was tighter until the Vikings took a 15-12 edge. The ‘Jackets rallied to even it at 15 all and then built a 19-15 advantage. Bethany Lutheran answered once more as it rallied to knot it at 24 all. A Viking attack error and a block from Katlyn Jones and Sydney Smith would give UWS the final two points for the advancing win.

UP NEXT
Northwestern and UW-Superior will battle for the UMAC Championship title and the automatic bid to the NCAA DIII national tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15 in Arden Hills, Minn. at 7 p.m.
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
• Semifinals: Wednesday, November 12
    - 7 P.M. | #1 Northwestern def #4 Minnesota Morris 3-0
        Box Score
    - 7 P.M. | #2 UW-Superior def #3 Bethany Lutheran 3-0
        Box Score

• Championship: Saturday, November 15
    - 7 PM | #2 UW-Superior at #1 Northwestern
        Live video | Live stats        

TICKETS
• $15 | Adults
• $10 | Seniors
• $10 | College Students
• $10 | Youth (Ages 6-18)
• Free | Ages 5 and Under
• Free | Any UMAC students, faculty, and staff with a valid and current institutional ID.
• No other passes will be accepted.