MANKATO, Minn. – The first two sets were edge of your seat for the Bemidji State University Volleyball team against Minnesota State. After the teams split those sets, the Mavericks were able to reel off the final two sets for the 3-1 win (26-28, 26-24, 25-8, 25-19) Saturday morning in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play inside the Taylor Center.
Bemidji State (8-14, 5-9 NSIC) collected 46 kills to 34 errors in 170 chances (.071), while Minnesota State (12-10, 7-7 NSIC) posted 42 kills to 20 errors in 150 chances (.147).
Rylie Bjerklie and Hannah Kos paced the offense with 10 kills apiece, with Ashley Crowl adding nine. Emily Wade had 34 assists. On defense, Lauren Justesen collected 28 digs, with Lilly Bandle sending back six blocks. Bjerklie and Crowl added four apiece.
The Beavers came out strong reeling off 10 of the first 11 points in the opening set. Crowl started the match with a kill and service ace. Then an 8-0 run started with Justesen serving with Bjerklie, Kos and Hallie Mertz tallying kills around a double-block by Bjerklie and Mertz for the 10-1 lead. Following a Kos kill and then two kills by Bandle had BSU still holding the 19-11 lead. Bjerklie posted back-to-back kills for the 23-17 advantage. Minnesota State tallied seven of the next eight points to even the set at 24. After the teams tied again at 25 and 26, Bemidji State was finally able to put the set away with a Kos kill and then an attack error gave the Beavers the opening set at 28-26.
BSU carried that momentum into the second set posting the first three points with Mertz and Bandle combining for a block, before Mertz posted a kill and then a service ace by Crowl. The lead stretched to four at 13-9 on an attack error by the Mavericks. BSU was still ahead by four on a block by Crowl and Bandle at 19-15. Bemidji State moved to set point at 24-20 on a service ace by Kos. Minnesota State then surged back with six straight points to claim the set at 26-24.
Kos, Bandle, Mertz and Bjerklie tallied points early in the third set to keep the Beavers within four at 9-5. Minnesota State then tallied the next 10 points for the 19-5 lead. BSU was able to get a few points down the stretch, but it was too much from the Mavericks as they took the third set at 25-8.
Bandle and Kos tallied kills to begin the fourth set. Crowl and Bandle posted kills to keep the lead at 10-8. BSU remained in front at 14-13 when Minnesota State came back with seven of the next eight points for the 20-15 lead. Points from Crowl and Kos helped the Beavers get close, but Minnesota State closed the fourth set at 25-19 to win the match 3-1.
Bemidji State will now return home to host Augustana on Friday at 6 p.m. for Family Night. The Beavers will then close the weekend hosting Wayne State on Saturday at 4 p.m. for Senior Day.
For more information on the Bemidji State volleyball program, follow the Beavers on X (@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).
