SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team scored 17 points in each set except for the third when they claimed the set to push the match to four. Augustana was able to hold off the rally for the 3-1 victory (25-17, 25-17, 22-25, 25-17) Saturday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at the Elmen Center.
Bemidji State (6-10, 3-4 NSIC) had 45 kills to 18 errors in 119 chances (.227). Augustana (7-9, 4-4 NSIC) countered with 55 kills to 17 errors in 126 chances (.302). Ashley Crowl just missed a double-double with 11 kills and nine digs. Rylie Bjerklie added nine kills, while Hallie Mertz, Lauren Sitter and Zayda Priebe all added seven kills. Priebe sent back five blocks. Emily Wade had 23 assists, with Hally Holker adding 16. Lauren Justesen had 13 digs.
BSU moved in front 3-1 in the opening set with Mertz and Justesen tallying points. After Augustana answered with a 5-1 run, Bemidji State came back with a 4-0 burst as Crowl tallied two kills, around a pair of double blocks by Bjerklie and Wade for the 8-6 lead. The Vikings began to pull away going on a 12-1 run for the 18-9 advantage. A pair of kills by Bjerklie and a kill by Mertz kept it close down the stretch, but Augustana won the first set by a 25-17 score.
Augustana scored the first six points of the second set. Kills by Priebe and Lauren Sitter had the Beavers back to within three at 16-13. After that, BSU could get no closer than six points at 22-16 and then 23-17 before Augustana won the final two points to win the second set at 25-17.
Bemidji State broke out to a three-point lead in the third set at 10-7 with Sitter tallying a kill and a double block by Bjerklie and Lilly Bandle. Trailing 15-14, BSU kept pushing with Priebe, Sitter and Justesen tallying points for the 17-15 lead. Looking like the set was all but over at 23-18, Augustana surged back with four straight points for the 23-22 slim advantage. The Beavers regrouped with Crowl tallying a kill before a solo block by Priebe gave Bemidji State the third set at 25-22.
Augustana won seven of the first eight points to being the fourth set. The Vikings continued to cruise at 20-11 when the Beavers made their run. An attack error opened the door for a 5-0 run with two more attacking errors being followed by a kill from Mertz and Sitter leaving the deficit at 20-16. Augustana answered right back winning the next four points to move to match point and after a kill by Sitter, the Vikings closed it out for the 25-17 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory.
The road trip continued for Bemidji State as they will travel to Minnesota Crookston on Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. The Beavers will close the week hosting St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
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).
