INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team closed out play at the UIndy Invite Saturday afternoon after falling to Cedarville University and Northern Michigan University, both matches in three sets. The Beavers (0-8, 0-0 NSIC) close out their non-conference schedule and begin Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play next weekend at home.

Bemidji State opened day two of the tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., by falling in three sets to Cedarvile by scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-18. The Beavers hit .173 as a team compared to .327 by the Yellowjackets who committed just seven attacking errors in the match.

BSU was led by junior Meeghen Dahlager who totaled 10 kills in the match while also hitting at a .333 efficiency. She was followed by sophomore Rylie Bjerklie who recorded eight kills and led the team with a .400 hitting percentage. Freshman Emily Wade totaled 25 assists running the Beavers' attack and picked up eight digs defensively. 

Sophomore Madison Weyker led the Beavers' defense with 14 digs while sophomore Lauren Justesen followed with 11.

Bemidji State fell in three sets in its final match of the tournament after falling 25-22, 25-13 and 25-15 to Northern Michigan. The Beavers hit just .084 as a team while the Wildcats hit .247 and out-hit the Beavers 34 kills to 23.

Junior Rylee Pompa, Dahlager and sophomore Hallie Mertz each led the Beavers with four kills each while Wade totaled 19 assists.  Weyker and senior Anna Averkamp each led BSU's defense with 11 digs while Bjerklie led the Beavers at the net with to block assists.

Bemidji State returns home next weekend to host its first matches since 2019 and will host Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls at the BSU Gymnasium, Sept. 17-18. The weekend will begin a three-match homestand for the Beavers. 

For more information on the Bemidji State volleyball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversVB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers and Volleyball Facebook) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). 

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