SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Elmen Center) - The Bemidji State University volleyball team dropped a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match to No. 23 Augustana College Friday evening at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The nationally-ranked Vikings recorded twenty more kills than the Beavers’ while hitting an efficient .308 to put the match away via the sweep (25-10, 25-22, 25-15).

The sophomore duo of Heather Sampson (OH, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Nicole Olson (MB, Baudette, Minn.) jumped into the action earning seven kills apiece to pace a BSU team that collected just 30 kills on the night. Melissa McNeely (Fr., OH, Burnsville, Minn.) was third on the squad as she netted six kills on 21 attempts.

Defensively, Jessi-Beth McCannell (Fr., LB, Brandon, Manitoba) posted a team-high 13 digs while Jennifer Janckila (Sr., MB, Appleton, Wis.) garnered a team-high two blocks (1bs-1ba) to lead BSU to a team total of four.

Courtney Bitter (Fr., S, Bemidji, Minn.) was once again the floor general for the Beavers with 24 set assists combined with two kills and six digs.

Cayla Schroeder and Beth Talcott paced the Vikings offensively. Schroeder notched a match-high 12 kills while Talcott was just behind with 11. Talcott recorded a remarkable .400 hitting percentage (11k-1e-25at) while Schroeder hit .250 (12k-4e-32at) in the match. Brianna Erickson notched a match-high 15 digs while Schroeder and Talcott each added 10 digs for their double-double performances.

Blythe Johnson totaled seven blocks (1bs-6ba) while Lisa Hoegh recorded 41 set assists in the AC win.

The win helped Augustana improve to 11-6 overall and 4-1 within NSIC play. It also aided in strengthening the Vikings’ grip on the all-time series. AC has now defeated BSU in 11 of 13 meetings between the teams including a current winning streak of 10 over the Beavers.

Bemidji State (6-12; 2-4 NSIC) returns to action tomorrow afternoon as the Beavers travel to Wayne, Neb. to take on the Wayne State College Wildcats at 4 p.m. from Rice Auditorium.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--beavers--