ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team rallied from dropping the first set to win the second set going away. Northern State then took the final two sets for the 3-1 win (25-13, 10-25, 25-20, 25-14) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Saturday afternoon at Wachs Arena.
Hallie Mertz led the offense with 111 kills, while Lauren Sitter had nine. Mertz added four service aces. Lilly Bandle sent back five blocks, with Ashley Crowl tallying four. Emily Wade dished out 27 assists and Lauren Justesen had 18 digs.
Bemidji State (4-6, 1-1 NSIC) hit .276 in the second set with 11 kills to three errors in 29 chances. For the match, BSU had 38 kills to 23 errors in 126 chances (.119). Northern State tallied 48 kills to 19 errors in 125 chances (.232).
BSU pulled to within two in the opening set at 10-8 on a service ace by Mertz. Northern State answered with five of the next six points to stretch out to a 15-9 lead. The Beavers would get no closer than four points the rest of the way before the Wolves took the set at 25-13.
In the second set, BSU used an early 4-0 run to jump ahead at 6-4. Sitter posted a pair of kills. A 9-1 run in the middle of the set stretched the lead to 15-7. Mertz posted a pair of aces to cap the run. Ahead 18-10, the Beavers scored the final seven points to win the set. Bandle opened the stretch with a kill. Mertz then took over with three straight kills and following a service ace by Crowl, two attack errors gave Bemidji State the set at 25-10.
An attack error and service ace by Mertz helped BSU even the third set at six. Northern State went on an 8-1 run to take a 14-7 lead. The Beavers tried to rally down the stretch with Crowl posting a trio of kills, along with a kill by Mertz, but the Wolves held on for the 25-20 third set win.
Northern State won the first nine points of the fourth set. Bemidji State tried to chip away with Bandle combining with Crowl for the first block and then Sitter for the second block to trim the deficit to seven at 13-6. The Beavers would get no closer than six, with Northern State winning the set at 25-14 to take the match at 3-1.
Bemidji State will finally return home after playing their first 10 matches of the season on the road. The Beavers will host UMary this coming Friday at 6 p.m. and then will face Minot State on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. inside the BSU Gym.
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).
