NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Although the Bemidji State University Volleyball team wasn't able to claim a win on Friday, they were right in both matches. To start the day, the Beavers faced No. 25 Lynn going extra in the third before falling in straight sets. Then to close the day, BSU went against Alabama-Huntsville and nearly forced the match to five before falling in four. Bemidji State competed in the Ray Thrasher Classic and will play two more tomorrow (Saturday) to close the tournament.
In the season opener against No .25 Lynn (25-22, 25-13, 29-27), the Beavers (0-2) quickly moved out to a 4-0 lead in the first set off three Lynn errors. The lead remained 8-5 with kills from Hallie Mertz and Ashley Crowl. The teams would battle throughout the first set as a solo block by Lauren Sitter tied the set back up at 16. After a kill by Crowl a few points later pushed BSU back in front at 18-17, the Knights reeled off four of the next five points. BSU wouldn't go away, fighting back to tie at 21 and again at 22 before Lynn closed on a 3-0 spurt for the 25-22 set win.
Lynn (1-0) held the early lead in the second before BSU came back to tie at eight on a pair of kills by Mertz. With the set tied again at nine, the Knights went on an 11-1 run to pull away at 20-10. The Beavers couldn't gain any ground and dropped the second set at 25-13.
That set up a wild third. BSU jumped in front 11-7 on a kill by Zayda Priebe. The Knights slowly worked their way back in and looked to be ready to close the set at 21-17. BSU kept fighting with Priebe and Mertz combining for a block, a kill by Crowl and then a service ace by Emily Wade left the deficit at just one at 21-20. With Lynn two points away at 23-21, BSU reeled off the next three points to move to set point. Sitter posted a kill and around a Lynn attack error, Rylie Bjeklie added a solo block. Lynn answered with the next two points, before BSU answered with two straight to again move to set point at 26-25. Lynn stayed alive on the next point, just to watch Crowl tally a kill for another set point try at 27-26. The Knights closed strong scoring the final three points for the 29-27 third set win and 3-0 match victory.
Crowl paced the offense with 10 kills, Wade had 21 assists, Bjerklie sent back four blocks and Lauren Justesen collected 13 digs.
To finish the first day of the season, Bemidji State went against Alabama-Huntsville with the Chargers winning in four sets (26-24, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21). The opening set was back-and-forth with Alabama-Huntsville (1-1) making the first move at 13-10. It was a quick Beaver answer when Priebe recorded three straight kills to help a stretch of BSU winning five of six points to take the 15-14 lead. A Sitter ace and kill by Bjerklie tied the set at 21 and 22. The Chargers moved to set point at 24-22, before BSU extended the set to 24-all. Alabama-Huntsville posted a kill and block over the next two points for the 26-24 opening set win.
Bemidji State controlled play throughout most of the second set, surging out to the 18-13 lead capped on a kill by Crowl. The Chargers came back to even the set at 22 and again at 23 before a double-block by Priebe and Wade was followed by an attacking error for UAH to give BSU the second set at 25-23.
The Beavers rode that momentum into the third set pulling ahead at 15-12 on a kill by Bjerklie and service ace by Jada Wlodarczyk. Right after the Chargers evened the set at 15, BSU regained control pushing ahead at 20-18 with kills by Sitter and Crowl. UAH caught fire winning seven straight points to come back and win the set at 25-20.
A 5-0 run early in the fourth set had BSU looking at a 9-6 lead. Mertz and Hally Holker tallied kills around three attack errors. UAH began to pull away down the stretch at 21-17 and after kills by Priebe and Crowl had the deficit back to two, the Chargers held off any late rallied winning four of the final six points for the 25-21 fourth set win and 3-1 match victory.
Mertz led three Beavers with double-digits in kills posting 12. Priebe collected 11 with a .471 hitting percentage and Crowl went for a double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. Wade dished out 26 assists, Bjerklie sent back three blocks and Justesen added 25 digs.
Bemidji State will close out the Nashville trip tomorrow (Saturday) facing Carson-Newman at 11 a.m. and Trevecca Nazarene at 7 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).
