HILO, Hawai'i – Bemidji State University volleyball fifth-year senior Rylie Bjerklie recorded a career-high 20 kills on 40 attacks to lead the Beavers in their match at University of Hawai'i at Hilo Thursday evening but the Beavers fell 3-2 (25-18, 30-28, 17-25, 16-25, 11-15).
 
Her 40 attacks during the match were also a career-high for the Roseau, Minn., native. Bemidji State falls in its first match of the season while the Vulcans improved to 3-0.
 
The Beavers started hot winning the first two sets by scores of 25-18 and 30-28 in an extended second set. However, the Vulcans rallied in the finals three sets to come away with the victory. BSU opened the match hitting a scorching .481 as a team but cooled off and hit just .083 over the remaining sets.
 
BSU totaled 56 kills as a team and senior Ashley Crowl followed Bjerklie with 12 kills. Freshman Lily Riese followed collecting seven kills in her first collegiate match. Senior Emily Wade fueled the Beavers attack earning 35 assists and added seven kills herself.
 
Crowl was all over the court earning a double-double after pacing the Beavers' backcourt with 14 digs. She also added four service aces and four blocks to finish with 18 points in the match. Junior Kylie Struble followed with 12 digs while Wade also added 11 for her double-double as well.
 
Crowl and junior Zayda Priebe paced the Beavers at the net each earning four blocks while Bjerklie added three and freshman Ava Athman added two.
 
The Beavers will rebound tomorrow night and face Saint Martin's University and Western Oregon University at 6:00 p.m. CT and 12:00 AM CT, respectively.
 
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).
 
--bsu—