DULUTH, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball (3-8, 0-3 NSIC) fell to University of Minnesota Duluth (10-0, 3-0 NSIC) in straight sets on Tuesday evening at Romano Gym in Duluth, Minn. The Beavers fell in a 25-21, 25-12, 25-17 sweep.
 
Bemidji State opened the first set with determination, taking an early lead with a kill from Madison Tripp. Lily Riese and Karley Dunham contributed crucial points to keep the Beavers competitive against Minnesota Duluth. Despite the back-and-forth action, the score remained close throughout the set. As it progressed, Bemidji State's offense was highlighted by consistent efforts from Riese, who added multiple kills to narrow the gap. However, Minnesota Duluth capitalized on a series of errors by the Beavers to pull ahead. The set ended with Minnesota Duluth edging out a 25-21 win.
 
In the second set, Bemidji State engaged in a tight exchange with the Bulldogs initially, with the teams trading points to a 5-5 tie. Key contributions came from Riese and Dunham, each delivering kills set up by Tripp. Despite Bemidji State's efforts, the Bulldogs capitalized on errors and executed a series of successful plays to extend their lead. Minnesota Duluth then went on a substantial run, widening the gap with a sequence of kills, primarily facilitated by Ava Jones, and blocks that stifled the Beavers' advances. Although Bemidji State managed to narrow the margin with late kills by Nevaeh Carlson and a service ace from Kylie Struble, the Bulldogs secured the set with a final score of 25-12.
 
Bemidji State opened the third set with a strong offensive sequence, as Grace Hoffard and Riese secured early kills to tie the score at 4-4. Ava Athman and Carlson continued to contribute, with Athman delivering a key service ace that helped the Beavers edge ahead 10-9. Despite maintaining a competitive stance, the set saw Minnesota Duluth regain momentum through a series of successful plays, including multiple kills by Paige Decker. Minnesota Duluth then capitalized on a series of errors by the Beavers to extend their lead. Bemidji State responded with kills from Dunham and Carlson, narrowing the deficit to 16-19. However, the Bulldogs' consistent offensive execution, highlighted by Decker's late series of kills, pushed them to close the set at 25-17. The set concluded with Minnesota Duluth securing the win.
 
Athman led the Beavers with eight kills on 19 attempts, achieving a hitting percentage of .368 and adding nine digs. Tripp contributed significantly with 18 assists, facilitating the team's offensive plays over three sets. Struble was active defensively, recording eight digs along with two assists. Riese tallied 10 kills on 24 attempts, contributing a total of 10 points for the team.
 
Bemidji St. holds a record of 3-8 overall and 0-3 in NSIC competition.  Looking ahead, the Beavers will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face off against Augustana on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. All NSIC matches are available for streaming on the NSIC Network.
 
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).