NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Bemidji State University Volleyball team closed the Ray Thrasher Classic in style picking up a pair of victories on Saturday. The Beavers swept Carson-Newman and then defeated the hosts of the tournament Trevecca Nazarene in four sets.
In the first match of the day against Carson-Newman (1-2), the Beavers cruised by set scores of 25-14, 26-24, 25-19, while hitting .228 with at least 12 kills in each set. Bemidji State (2-2) came out on fire in the opening set reeling off the first five points all with Emily Wade serving. A 6-0 run a few points later helped stretch the advantage into double-digits. After a couple of attacking errors, Zayda Priebe tallied two kills, Ashley Crowl added a kill and Kylie Struble spun in a service ace for the 14-4 lead. Carson-Newman would get no closer than six points the rest of the way with BSU closing the set with the 25-14 win on a kill by Crowl.
It was an impressive start to the second set as the Beavers won 15 of the first 18 points to jump out to a commanding 15-3 lead. Crowl posted three kills towards the end of the run. Just when it looked like the set was over, the Eagles stormed back. After recording 21 of the next 30 points, Carson-Newman fought all the way back to even the set at 24. BSU regrouped to close the set with Hallie Mertz delivering two straight kills for the 26-24 second set win.
That momentum carried right into the third set with the Beavers moving out to the 9-2 lead. Mertz posted four service aces during the run. Similar to the second set, Carson-Newman didn't go away. Following a stretch winning of 17 of the next 29 points, the Eagles were within two at 21-19. The Beavers regrouped just like the end of the second set to close strong. A kill by Crowl ignited a 4-0 run to close out the set and match at 25-19.
Crowl led the offense with 10 kills. Mertz posted five service aces, nine digs and seven kills. Wade had 29 assists and Lauren Justesen led the back row with 11 digs.
In the second match of the day against host Trevecca Nazarene (2-2), the Beavers fought off a challenge down the stretch to win in four sets (25-13, 16-25, 25-21, 27-25). While the hitting percentage was strong in the first match, it was even better in the nightcap as BSU hit .319 posting 14 kills in three of the sets. It was an impressive showing after the match was delayed nearly two hours from the original start time due to the prior match going long.
The Trojans held the early 8-5 lead in the first set just to watch Bemidji State surge back scoring 16 of the next 18 points to take a commanding 21-10 lead. Lauren Sitter posted several kills to help cap the run and BSU added several more service aces, including two from Mertz. Trevecca Nazarene tallied a few points, but it wouldn't be enough to get back in the set with Priebe and Crowl tallying kills before a service ace by Crowl sealed the set at 25-13.
Trevecca Nazarene recovered in the second set jumping out to the 15-7 lead. Bemidji State made a late push with points from Tiara Diamond and Jada Wlodarczyk, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome the early start for the Trojans as they took the set at 25-16.
Neither team could pull away through the first 32 points of the third set. With everything knotted up at 16, the Beavers put together a quick 5-1 run to gain an edge. Mertz posted a pair of kills, with Rylie Bjerklie adding one and a service ace by Wlodarczyk. With BSU at set point, TNU made one final push before Sitter closed the set with a kill at 25-21.
Early on in the fourth set it looked like the match might be headed for a decisive fifth set when the Trojans were ahead at 16-11. Still in front at 18-14, the Beavers made their move. A kill by Crowl sparked a 5-0 run to push BSU ahead at 19-18. Crowl took over with three service aces and a kill during the run. The Trojans regrouped and again looked poised to push the match to a fifth holding a late 23-21 lead. Unfazed, the Beavers responded with the next three points to move to match point at 24-23. The Trojans stayed alive with a kill on the next point before Crowl answered to move back to match point at 25-24. After TNU recorded a block to even the match, the Beavers closed strong with Sitter and Crowl recording kills for the 27-25 fourth set win and match victory.
Crowl led the offense again with 14 kills, while Mertz added 11 and nine each from Bjerklie and Sitter. Wade dished out 36 assists and Justesen had 16 digs.
Bemidji State will now prepare for the Mountain Lion Classic this coming Friday and Saturday (Sep. 8-9) that will take place in Colorado Springs, Colo.
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).
