BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team honored their five seniors before the match against No. 1 Wayne State on Saturday. The top team in the nation held off a push by the Beavers in the third set to win 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-18) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
Rylie Bjerklie, Lauren Justesen, Madison Weyker, Rilee Michaelson and Hallie Mertz were all honored before the match as the five seniors this season. Wayne State (26-1, 17-0 NSIC) posted 35 kills to six errors in 85 chances (.341), while the Beavers (8-16, 5-11 NSIC) had 31 kills to 22 errors in 107 chances (.084). Bjerklie continued her strong week adding nine more kills and hit .500. Mertz also added nine kills. Emily Wade had 24 assists. Justesen collected 16 digs and Bjerklie sent back two blocks.
To start the match, Bemidji State scored the first two points with kills by Lilly Bandle and Mertz. After that, the Wildcats reeled off the next nine points. BSU got back to within three at 11-8 when Bjerklie, Crowl and Mertz tallied points during a 4-0 run. Wayne State added another big run to pull away, this time of 7-0 for the 18-8 lead. Bemidji State would get no closer than nine points the rest of the set with Wayne State taking set one at 25-12.
The Wildcats carried that momentum right into the second set quickly moving out to the 11-3 lead. The Beavers tried to gain some traction getting points by Mertz, Bjerklie, Ashley Crowl and Hannah Kos, but it was too much from Wayne State. After pulling to within seven a couple of times down the stretch, Wayne State closed on a 4-0 run for the 25-14 second set win.
Bemidji State showed resiliency in the third set. Down 11-6, the Beavers refused to go away. A kill by Lauren Sitter helped spark a 4-1 run. Bjerklie added a solo block and after a service ace by Justesen, Sitter closed the run with a kill at 12-10. BSU kept coming, going on a 4-0 run to take the lead at 14-13. Bjerklie tallied a kill to cap the run. The Beavers eventually pushed the lead to 16-14 on a pair of kills by Mertz. Out of a timeout, the Wildcats responded reeling off the next five points. After Bemidji State pulled back to within one at 19-18 on a kill by Mertz, Wayne State closed the set and the match on a 6-0 run for the 25-18 third set win.
Bemidji State will close the regular season this coming week traveling to Minot State on Friday starting at 6 p.m. and then at Mary on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
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).