BEMIDJI, Minn. – Playing inspired out of the gate, the Bemidji State University Volleyball team kept the intensity up throughout as they took down No. 8 St. Cloud State 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 28-26) Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play inside the BSU Gym.
The win over a nationally ranked team is the first for the Beavers since defeating then No. 8 Wayne State College in Bemidji in four sets during the 2019 season.
Bemidji State (8-10, 5-5 NSIC) hit over .200 in each set but the first to finish with 54 kills to 24 errors in 142 chances (.211). The Beavers limited St. Cloud State (14-6, 7-4 NSIC) to just 42 kills to 26 errors in 138 chances (.116), allowing only a high of .233 in the first set. The other three sets were .132 or lower. The defense held in check Kenzie Foley who had 32 kills against Minnesota Duluth on Thursday. Against BSU she had 11 kills, but also eight errors in 43 chances to hit .070.
Rylie Bjerklie had another huge match posting 17 kills and hit .419. Ashley Crowl added 15 kills. Emily Wade not only had 40 assists, but she added four assists and five digs. Hallie Mertz had the game-winning kill to finish with six and had 12 digs and three service aces. BSU sent back nine blocks with Lilly Bandle tallying seven. Lauren Justesen added 19 digs and Crowl made it a double-double with 16.
The win against the Huskies is the first for the Beavers since 2016 taking the five-set victory in Bemidji and snaps a nine-game losing streak to St. Cloud State.
Trailing 4-1 early in the first set, the Beavers reeled off 11 of the next 15 points to take the three-point lead. Bjerklie started the rally with a kill and then added a solo block. Lauren Sitter, Crowl and Bandle all added points before a service ace by Crowl ended the run with BSU holding the 12-9 advantage. Still ahead at 14-12, St. Cloud State started to make a run using a 6-0 run for the 18-14 lead. SCSU looked ready to take the set at 22-18 when the Beavers made a last push. Bandle posted a kill and then combined with Wade for a block. Following a service ace by Crowl, an attack error tied the set at 22. The Huskies rallied posting the final three points to take the set at 25-22.
Both teams played a tight first 20 points in the second set when points from Crowl and Bandle around a few errors by the Huskies gave BSU the 13-9 lead. The lead stretched to seven at 20-13 on an attacking error. SCSU posted a few points, but it wouldn't be enough with Sitter and Mertz collecting kills before an attacking error gave the Beavers the set at 25-19.
St. Cloud State moved out to the 12-6 lead in the third set. Still trailing by four at 13-9, the Beavers made a push scoring the next four points to even the set at 13. Sitter and Mertz posted kills during the run. With the set tied again at 15, Mertz tallied a service ace and would serve the next six points for BSU. During Mertz's service game, Bjerklie added a block and kill before capping the run with another service ace at 21-15. Tiara Diamond added a service ace to move to set point at 24-16 and then a kill by Bandle gave BSU the set at 25-18.
Similar to the third set, SCSU broke out to the early lead at 12-6. Trailing 20-14, the Beavers refused to go away. A pair of kills by Crowl and a kill by Wade before an attacking error by the Huskies lead the lead at 22-19. Still in front at 23-20, the Beavers reeled off three straight to tie the set at 23. Around two attacking errors, Mertz tallied a kill. SCSU moved to set point at 24-23 before kills from Bandle and Bjerklie pushed the Beavers to set point at 25-24. SCSU responded with the next two points to again move to set point at 26-25. A service error and then attacking error pushed BSU in front at 27-26. Bemidji State closed it out when Mertz posted the kill for the 28-26 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory.
With the win, BSU is now 5-5 in NSIC play, currently eighth in the standings. BSU is just a game back of Winona State and two back of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State for fifth.
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) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversVB)
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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).
