ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team split the final day of the 2024 Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic Saturday afternoon after defeating Saginaw Valley State University but fell to No. 19 Grand Valley State University.
 
The Beavers (5-3) earned a 3-1 victory over Saginaw Valley State early in the morning before falling to host school Grand Valley State 3-0 later in the afternoon. The Beavers won four straight matches before their lost to the No. 19 Lakers.
 
Fifth-year senior Rylie Bjerklie paced the Beavers totaling 21 kills over the two matches and hit .286 leading the Beavers' hitters. She was followed by senior Ashley Crowl with 16 kills while freshman Lily Riese added 11 and recorded all 11 kills in the Beavers' win over SVSU, a career-best.
 
Senior Emily Wade continued to drive the Beavers' attack and totaled 55 assists including 38 against the Cardinals. She also contributed seven kills offensively and 19 digs on defense.
 
Junior Jada Wlodarczyk led BSU's defense with 30 digs and tied a career high with 20 in match one. Bjerklie also paced the Beavers' blockers with seven blocks (1s-6a) while Crowl added six (6a).
 
The Beavers will now return home for a brief time before beginning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Wednesday, Sept. 18 when they travel across Highway 2 for a battle at University of Minnesota Crookston. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State volleyball program, follow the Beavers on X (@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).
 
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