MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team jumped out to the early two set lead and eventually beat MSU Moorhead in five sets, 3-2 (26-24, 25-18, 22-25, 19-25, 15-10) to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Friday night at the Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.
The win for the Beavers snapped an 11-game losing streak in the series with the last victory coming in 2014 in Bemidji with BSU claiming the 3-0 victory. The last win in Moorhead was during the 1999 season (3-1). Bemidji State did record a neutral site win in 2003 in Bismarck posting the 3-0 victory.
Bemidji State (4-5, 1-0 NSIC) came out firing to start the match scoring the first five points. Ashley Crowl, Rylie Bjerklie, Lauren Justesen and Emily Wade all collected points. BSU was still in control at 14-10 on a kill by Bjerklie. MSU Moorhead (3-6, 0-1 NSIC) stormed back with the next six points to move in front at 16-14. The Dragons then took control and were at set point holding the 24-21 lead. The Beavers then closed strong winning the final five points to fight off three set points and take the first set at 26-24. Lauren Sitter started the run with a kill, then after two kills from Crowl tied the set, Bjerklie posted a kill before Justesen served it out with an ace.
MSU Moorhead moved out to the 8-5 lead in the second set when BSU surged back. Following a service error, the Beavers reeled off a 10-0 run to take control at 15-8. Crowl spun in three service aces during the run before Hallie Mertz closed the stretch with a kill. Bemidji State kept control the rest of the way, with Bjerklie and Mertz collecting kills to finish the set at 25-18.
Sitter and Crowl had back-to-back kills to push BSU out to the 7-3 lead in the third set. The teams then traded leads and ties with a solo block by Lilly Bandle evened the set at 20. The Dragons answered with four straight points to move to set point. BSU tallied the next two points to keep the set alive before a kill by Bridget Witzmann gave MSU Moorhead the third set at 25-22.
Bemidji State opened the fourth set with four straight points with Crowl capping the run with a kill. MSU Moorhead began to take control towards the middle of the set ahead at 18-12. A Crowl kill helped ignite a 5-0 run to bring BSU right back into it. After two errors by MSU Moorhead, Bjerklie and Micalyn Trihus had kills leaving the Dragons holding a slim 18-17 advantage. Following a Hally Holker kill at 21-18, MSU Moorhead won four of the next five points to claim the set at 25-19 and extend the match to a decisive fifth set.
BSU opened the fifth set strong getting a solo block by Bandle for the first point. Ahead 3-2, Sitter tallied a kill and around an error, Bjerklie added a kill for the 6-2 lead. Back-to-back Mertz kills pushed the lead out to 10-5. Bemidji State stayed strong the rest of the way with a Bjerklie kill closing the set at 15-10 and sending BSU to the five-set win.
As a team, Bemidji State hit .209 with 69 kills to 33 errors in 172 chances. MSU Moorhead posted a .277 percentage with 53 kills to 14 errors in 141 chances. Crowl led the offense with 21 kills, followed by 16 from Mertz and 14 from Bjerklie. Wade had 47 assists. Justesen tallied 26 digs. It was a double-double for Sitter with 10 kills and 14 digs.
Bemidji State will remain on the road tomorrow (Saturday) when they will play at Northern State starting at 2 p.m. Northern State swept Minnesota Crookston on Friday.
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).
