BEMIDJI, Minn. – Although No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State University pulled out the 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-22) Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over the Bemidji State University Volleyball team, the Beavers battled and nearly forced it to a fourth set on Friday evening.
Hallie Mertz led the offense with nine kills, followed by eight from Rylie Bjerklie. Bjerklie added three blocks. Emily Wade had 25 assists, while Lauren Justesen added 26 digs.
Southwest Minnesota State (17-3, 9-2 NSIC) jumped out to the 7-3 lead in the opening set. The Beavers answered with the next four points to even the set at seven. Lauren Sitter started the run with a kill, then following a double block by Bjerklie and Wade, an attacking error led to Bjerklie tying the set with a kill at seven. The teams battled to ties three more times until 13 all when SMSU reeled off five of the next six points for the 18-14 lead. Crowl tallied a couple of kills down the stretch, but the Mustangs closed strong with four straight point for the 25-18 opening set win.
A couple of ball handling errors and then a kill by Mertz had BSU (8-11, 5-6 NSIC) with the lead at 7-6 in the second set. Following a Mertz kill at 8-7, SMSU answered with a 7-0 run for the 14-8 advantage. The Beavers kept fighting with Bjerklie tallying a couple of kills, but it was too much SMSU as the Mustangs claimed the set at 25-18.
Bemidji State moved out to the 3-1 lead in the third set with Mertz collecting a kill around a couple of errors by SMSU. The Mustangs turned the set around to move ahead at 17-10. The Beavers didn't go away answering with eight of the next 10 points to pull to within one. Wade, Sitter, Mertz, and Bjerklie all had kills during the run that left SMSU with the slim 19-18 lead. After SMSU moved ahead at 21-18, a service error and then a service ace by Mertz had the deficit back to one. The Mustangs moved to match point at 24-21, but a kill by Crowl extended the match. SMSU was able to hold off any rally with a kill on the next point for the 25-22 set win and 3-0 match victory.
Bemidji State tallied 35 kills to 18 errors in 104 chances (.163), while SMSU answered with 39 kills to 11 errors in 106 chances (.264).
Tonight, both Southwest Minnesota State and Bemidji State wore shirts in support of cancer awareness. Thank you to the Mustangs for showing their support for our head coach, Kevin Ulmer, and to this great cause.
Bemidji State continues the homestand tomorrow (Saturday) facing Winona State starting at 4 p.m. The Warriors defeated Minnesota Crookston 3-0 on Friday night.
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).
