MINOT, N.D. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team fought off a comeback attempt by Minot State to win the battle of the Beavers on Friday night 3-2 (25-20, 18-25, 25-14, 24-26, 15-11) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play inside the MSU Dome.

Bemidji State (9-16, 6-11 NSIC) received strong performances from Lilly Bandle tallying a match-high 12 kills. Rylie Bjerklie and Hallie Mertz added 11 apiece. Emily Wade had 37 assists and Lauren Justesen spun in three service aces. Justesen had 22 digs and Bjerklie sent back four blocks.

BSU had 51 kills to 21 errors in 180 chances (.167), as the Beavers hit .212 and .231 over the final two sets for their best hitting sets on the night. Minot State (2-25, 1-16 NSIC) collected 51 kills to 27 errors in 188 chances (.128).

The opening set was close through the first 30-plus points with Minot State holding the 16-15 lead. A Bjerklie kill followed to spark a 6-0 run to help BSU gain some separation. Bjerklie added another kill and after Hannah Kos has a couple of service aces, Bjerklie combined with Mertz for a block that had BSU with the 21-16 lead. Minot State fought off a couple of set points before a service error gave Bemidji State the 25-20 first set win.

With the second set tied at eight, Minot State reeled off the next six points for the 14-8 lead. MSU pushed out to the 20-12 lead before Bemidji State started to make things interesting. A kill by Bandle ignited a 6-0 run. Justesen had two service aces and Minot State had three errors in the set to help BSU pull to within two at 20-18. As quickly as BSU got back into the set, Minot State then put it away closing on a 5-0 run to take the second set at 25-18.

Bemidji State didn't let the second set slow them down in the third. An early 6-0 run had BSU looking at the 10-3 lead. Bjerklie, Mertz, and Ashley Crowl all had points during the run. Minot State fought back to within two at 15-13 before another 6-0 run stretched the lead to 21-13. Bjerklie, Lauren Sitter each had points during the run around a few errors by MSU. A kill by Minot State ended the run, just to see Bemidji State finish strong on a 4-0 run to take the third set at 25-14. All four points were scored on errors by Minot State.

Minot State looked poised to finish the fourth set at 20-15. Bemidji State came back strong with a kill by Mertz starting a 5-0 run to even things at 20. Wade added a service ace and after an error by MSU, Sitter and Mertz posted kills. Minot State tallied the next three points to push close to the set at 23-20. Bemidji State once again responded with their own 3-0 run to even the set at 23. Bandle and Crowl tallied kills to help even the score. After the teams traded points to stay tied at 24, Minot State finished the set with a kill and then an error by Bemidji State gave MSU the set at 26-24 to force a decisive fifth set.

Bemidji State surged out of the gate to start the fifth set with Mertz, Crowl and Bjerklie posting points for the 6-2 lead. Minot State scored eight of the next 10 points to take the 10-8 lead. Bemidji State regrouped and started to pull away. A kill by Bandle started a 6-0 run to move BSU to match point. Mertz, Sitter added points before Bandle finished what she started with a kill at 14-10. Minot State extended the match with a kill, but Bemidji State closed the match with a kill by Sitter for the 15-11 fifth set win and 3-2 match victory.

Bemidji State will face Mary in Bismarck on Saturday afternoon starting at 2 p.m. The Marauders defeated Minnesota Crookston in five sets on Friday night.