BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University volleyball travels to Duluth, Minn. Tuesday evening for a midweek match against No. 16 University of Minnesota Duluth. The match is slated for 6 p.m. from Romano Gymnasium.
Last weekend, the Beavers hosted No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State University, falling in three sets, and the University of Sioux Falls, falling in four. The Beavers hold a 3-7 overall record and are 0-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after last weekend. Next weekend, the team travels to Augustana University and Wayne State College.
Offensively,
Lily Riese leads the team with 134 points scored, averaging 3.53 per set with 127 kills. Riese sits in eighth in the conference for kills per set.
Ava Athman follows close behind with 120.0 points, averaging 3.16 per set with 104 kills. Freshman
Madison Tripp leads the team with 215 set assists, averaging 5.66 per set, and holds 12
th in the conference for assists per set. Her classmate,
Karley Dunham, leads the team at the service line with 14 aces, averaging 0.37 per set. Libero
Kylie Struble leads the defensive unit with 138 total digs, averaging 3.63 per set. At the net, Dunham is back at the top of the charts with 29 total blocks, five solo and 29 assisted for an average of 0.89 per set, holding ninth in the conference.
The 9-0 Bulldogs are one of six Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams in the AVCA/Taraflex Division II Women's Volleyball Poll this week. They enter the match after taking down USF and SMSU last weekend. The Bulldogs went into five sets against the Cougars and four against the Mustangs. This weekend, UMD makes the same trip as BSU, taking on AU Friday and AU Saturday.
The Bulldog offense is led in scoring by junior right-side Madeline Guetzkow with 140 points. She averages just over 4.1 points per set, marking 110 kills for 3.24 per set. Ava Jones leads the team's setters with 399 total set assists, averaging 11.74 per set. She also leads the team with 16 service aces. Kylie Broten leads the NSIC in hitting percentage this season at .517 percent. On the defensive side, Paige Decker leads at the net with 35.0 total blocks, three solo on 32 assisted. Defensive specialist Madison Reed leads the team with 150 total digs for 4.41 per set.
Tuesday's match is available for streaming on the NSIC Network. Next week, the Beavers return home for Homecoming and tickets are available on the BSU Beavers website or in person at the door.
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).
