MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team concluded their nonconference slate today as they faced Michigan Technological University and Lake Superior State. BSU managed to gain a split today with after an opening loss to Michigan Tech in three sets and a win over Lake Superior State in three sets.

With a 2-2 tournament the Beavers 2013 record stands at 4-4 which ties their win total from all of last season. BSU will begin conference play this week as they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to play St. Cloud State on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Beavers will then host University of Minnesota Duluth at 4 p.m. for the team’s 2013 home opener.

BSU struggled to get into a consistent groove early versus MTU. The Beavers played better in the third set when they outhit the Huskies for the first time in the match .139 to .068. The Beavers were led by Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.) who had 11 kills and Courtney Volkmann (S, 5-7, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) who had 17 assists and nine digs.

Notables

-In the third set, it was the first time that the Beavers had the edge in attacking percentage and did not win the set.

Turning Points vs. Michigan Tech

Set 1: The Beavers had the lead at 11-9 on a MTU attack error but due to a combination of the Huskies offense (.300 attack percentage) and hitting errors by Bemidji State (7 total errors), MTU pulled out in front and did not relinquish the lead winning the first set 25-16.  

Set 2: MTU dominated the second set against BSU. The Beavers’ first five points were scored on either a service error or an attack error made by the Huskies. After the MTU’s errors were corrected, they put ran away with the set winning: 25-16. After the score was 7-5 in favor of the Huskies, MTU only committed one error the rest of the set.

Set 3: In the third set, both teams played very evenly. Throughout the duration of the set, there were eight lead changes. Amanda Tronick (OH, 6-1, Fr., Hutchinson, Minn.) had a kill to put the Beavers up 25-24 but unfortunately the Huskies scored the next three points to win the set 27-25.

In second match of the day, the Beavers played Lake Superior State and beat the Lakers 3-0. The sweep is the second of the season for the Beavers after only having three all of last season. Yost led the way for the Beavers with 15 kills and had no errors and hit at a .484 clip.

“Jess Yost was unreal in the match against Lake Superior State,” said BSU head coach Wayne Chadwick.

Notables

- Chelsea Frison (MB, 6-1, So., Whitewater, Wis.) had five kills and hit .385 for the match.

- Rachel Craig (MB, 6-2, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) had eight kills and hit at a .333 clip.

- Volkmann continues to move closer to BSU’s top ten all time in assists. She needs only 178 assists now to crack the top 10.

Turning Points against Lake Superior State

Set 1: After a Tronick kill to put the Beavers out front 12-11, BSU kept the pressure on the Lakers and won the match 25-16. The Beavers pressure was supplied mainly by the two freshmen outside hitters: Tronick and Yost who had five and four kills respectively.

Set 2: Elissa Christensen (L/DS, 5-6, Jr., Montevideo, Minn.) had the magic touch serving in the second set as she served seven straight times and got the Beavers out to a 9-4 lead. LSS came back and took a lead late in the set 24-23 but the Beavers came up with the defensive stops when they needed them and took the second set 26-24.

Set 3: In an almost copycat set to the second, the two teams exchanged leads and were neck and neck and had to go a few more points to decide a winner. Like in the second set, the Beavers came up with key plays and won 28-26 and took the match: 3-0.

“We played a very controlled and even keeled match,” said Chadwick. “We took advantage of the opportunities that were given to us.”

The Beavers concluded their nonconference slate with an overall record of 4-4 as they head into conference play. Head Coach Wayne Chadwick had this to say about his team so far and moving into conference play.

“I’m very pleased with my team so far,” said Chadwick. “We have a much more balanced offense and we already have the same number of wins that we had last year and I am looking forward to see how we compete in the NSIC.”