BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball travels to Sioux Falls, S.D. and Wayne, Neb. Friday and Saturday for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches. The Beavers take on Augustana University Friday at 6 p.m. followed by No. 14 Wayne State College Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
Bemidji State is coming off of a midweek loss to No. 16 University of Minnesota Duluth this past Tuesday. The Beavers fell in three sets, 25-21, 25-12, 25-17. This was the team's third NSIC matchup of the season and they currently sit at 0-3 in the conference and 3-8 overall. BSU currently averages around 11.9 kills per set this season with a .188 attack percentage. They also grab around 1.6 service aces and 1.4 blocks each set. 
 
Offensively, Lily Riese remains at the top of the Beavers' scoring attack, averaging 3.51 points per set with 144 total points. She has marked 137 total kills with a .183 attack percentage. Just behind Riese sits Ava Athman with 3.15 points per set who leads the Beavers' attacking unit with a .230 attack percentage. Madison Tripp leads the team with 233 total assists in her freshman campaign. She averages around 5.68 per set and has also tabbed nine service aces. Karley Dunham leads the Beavers at the service line with 14 aces, as well as being a force on the defensive unit, grabbing 34 total blocks. Libero Kylie Struble holds the top spot on the Beavers' defensive back row, marking 146 total digs. 
 
In the national rankings, Lily Riese has grabbed 69^th for total attacks, taking seventh in the NSIC. She is also ranked 53^rd for total kills at 137, taking seventh in the conference. Kylie Struble's 146 total digs have moved her into ninth in the conference as well as taking 11^th for digs per set. 
 
Augustana holds a 7-4 overall record, going 1-2 in the conference. The Vikings have bounced back-and-forth in their conference matches, falling on a road trip to Minnesota State University Moorhead in five sets then sweeping University of Minnesota Crookston in three before rounding out the past week with a 3-0 loss to Wayne State. The Vikings host Minnesota Duluth Saturday evening. 
 
Senior middle Maya Wente leads the Vikings' offensive force with 4.03 points per set, totaling 185.5 points with 157 kills and a .371 attacking percentage. Setter Kiyiah Franke has set up teammates to score with 504 assists, averaging 10.96 per set. Defensive specialist/libero Gabby Jones has found the top defensive spot for AU with 103 digs, averaging 2.24 per set. At the net, Wente also leads with 45.0 blocks, 12 solo and 33 assisted, averaging .98 per set. 
 
Wayne State is one of six NSIC programs ranked in the AVCA/Teraflex Division II Women's Volleyball Poll, holding an overall record of 9-2 with 3-0 in the conference. The Wildcats have won their last four matches, sweeping two and going to four sets in the other two. The team's most recent win came in a 3-0 sweep over Augustana on Tuesday.
 
The Wildcats have found their way into the top 50 in the NCAA for hitting percentage (19^th), kills per set (45^th) and match win-loss percentage (36^th). Molly Romano is ranked 21^st in the NCAA for assists per set and 14^th in total assists. Chloe Hanel has found herself in the top 15 with her .420 hitting percentage, taking 14^th. Hanel is also second in the NSIC for hitting percentage. 
 
Both matches this weekend are available on the NSIC Network for streaming. Links to the streams and live statistics are available on the BSU Beavers website. BSU is back home next week for Homecoming hosting Minot State University Friday and University of Mary on Saturday. 
 
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).