BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team opened the home portion of their schedule in style on Friday night rolling to the 3-0 sweep (25-9, 25-16, 25-18) over UMary in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play inside the BSU Gym.
Bemidji State (5-6, 2-1 NSIC) hit above .200 in each set, with a high of .258 (11 kills, three errors in 31 chances) in the opening set. BSU then held UMary (4-7, 0-3 NSIC) to just .021 hitting percentage (19 kills, 17 errors in 97 chances). The Beavers forced the Marauders to a -.194 hitting percentage in the opening set with eight errors.
It was a double-double for Ashley Crowl with 10 kills and 11 digs. Rylie Bjerklie put together a big night with nine kills and four blocks. Hallie Mertz added seven kills and 11 digs. Mertz spun in six more service aces, as BSU had 11 on the night. Emily Wade set up the offense with 27 assists and Lauren Justesen had 19 digs.
BSU jumped out to the 6-1 lead in the opening set. Zayda Priebe started off the night with a kill and then kills by Mertz and Lauren Sitter closed the run. The lead stretched to double-digits at 18-8 when Bjerklie took over with a solo block and then kill to cap a quick 4-0 run. Following a point by UMary, Bemidji State closed the set on a 7-0 run. Mertz had two service aces and UMary had three attacking errors down the stretch to close out the 25-9 first set win.
In the second set Bjerklie broke open a 3-3 tie with a kill and after Sitter recorded a solo block, Mertz spun in a service ace for the 6-3 lead. UMary kept fighting back, pulling back to within three at 18-15. Bemidji State clamped down from there closing the set on a 7-1 run. Crowl posted two service aces, Mertz had a pair of kills and after a kill by Priebe, a couple of errors by UMary led to BSU claiming the set at 25-16.
The Beavers used that momentum into the third set jumping ahead at 3-0. Mertz tallied a kill, Justesen a service ace and then a solo block by Bjerklie accounted for the first three points of the set. After UMary responded with five of the next six points to take a 5-4 lead, BSU countered with a 7-0 run to jump back in front at 11-5. Mertz, Sitter, and Crowl all had kills, while Mertz added a few more service aces. The Marauders made one more push late in the set pulling to within one at 16-15. Just like the end of the second set, Bemidji State closed strong going on a 9-3 run to claim the set at 25-18 and win the match 3-0. Crowl took over down the stretch with three kills before a service ace by Sitter ended the night.
The five wins this season already surpasses last year's win total of four and is the most since seven wins during the 2019 season.
Bemidji State will turn right back around and host Minot State in a battle of the Beavers on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. inside the BSU Gym. Minot State won a five-set battle at Minnesota Crookston on Friday night.
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).
