BEMIDJI, Minn. —Bemidji State University Volleyball heads on the road Thursday evening to play at Minnesota State University Moorhead before returning home Saturday for its Block Out Cancer match against University of Minnesota Crookston.
On Saturday, aim-for-the-ace balls, similar to "chuck-a-puck" will be available for purchase from the BSU Student Athlete Advisory Committee in the lobby for $1 per ball. Between the second and third sets, fans will be able to toss their balls toward a bucket in the center of the court for the chance to win a prize courtesy of Deerwood Bank. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to the Sanford Bemidji Joe Lueken Cancer Center in honor of former Beaver Volleyball Head Coach Kevin Ulmer. The team will also be holding a moment of silence for Coach Ulmer prior to the match.
The Beavers are 5-12 overall with a 2-7 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference record. Last weekend, the Beavers force University of Jamestown to five sets and, then No. 23, Northern State University to four, ultimately falling in both. Two weeks ago, the Beavers defeated Minot State University, 3-1, and University of Mary, 3-0, giving BSU its first conference victories of the year.
BSU's offense is led in scoring by sophomore
Lily Riese. This season, she has amassed 225 total points, 215 kills, averaging 3.57 points per set. Against Northern State last weekend, Riese marked a career high 26 kills and .512 attack percentage, she led the NSIC that weekend in most kills per set. Additionally, Riese grabbed a career high of eight digs against Jamestown. Defensively, senior libero
Kylie Struble leads from the back row with 225 total digs, averaging 3.57 per set with a .961 receiving percentage. At the net, freshman
Karley Dunham leads the team with 48.0 total blocks, nine solo and 39 assisted for .84 per set.
The Dragons hold an 11-6 record overall with 5-4 in the NSIC, sitting at eighth in the conference. Last weekend, the Dragons came out with a pair of wins, sweeping Minot State and going to five sets with UMary. MSUM's top points earner is sophomore hitter Brielle Riess with 230 total points, averaging 3.48 per set. She has grabbed 191 kills and 27 service aces this season. Maci Martini leads the team with 216 digs and a .955 receiving percentage this season. Leah Laqua and Mya Pfeifer are the top forces at the net, marking 34 and 33 total blocks, respectively.
The Golden Eagles are 6-11 overall and winless in the NSIC this season, currently on a ten-match losing streak that began on September 13
thagainst Quincy University. The Golden Eagles have been swept nine of their 11 losses. They are led in scoring by Madison Carsten with 250 points, almost 70 points more than her closest teammate. She has accumulated 229 kills and a .208 attack percentage. Defensively, Kailee Waasdorp leads with 339 digs, averaging 5.95 per set with a .943 reception percentage. At the net, Lexi Scharold leads with 31 total blocks, marking 10 solo and 21 assisted.
Following this weekend, the Beavers return to the BSU Gymnasium on Oct. 21 to host University of Minnesota Duluth at 6 p.m. They'll then host Bucky's Pantry Food Drive Night against Wayne State College Oct. 24 and Parent's Night against Augustana University Oct. 25. All NSIC matches are available on the NSIC Network for streaming.
For more information on the Bemidji State Volleyball program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversVB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like 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 and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
