BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball heads back on the road this weekend as they prepare for matches against No. 2 Wayne State College and Augustana University. 
 
The Beavers come off a 1-1 weekend in Bemidji, falling 3-0 to No. 13 St. Cloud State University, but bouncing back the following day to sweep Minnesota State University, Mankato for the first time in program history. The Beavers' win on Saturday also marked the first win over the Mavericks since 2015. BSU remains in eighth place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, marking a 6-5 NSIC record and 14-5 overall. Bemidji State's 14 wins is most since 2003 when BSU finished the season 15-17 under Head Coach Kim Falkenhagen. 
 
Ava Athman leads the Beaver offense, marking 285.5 points this season with 240 kills and a .358 attacking percentage. Athman takes second on the BSU service ace leaderboard with 25, just behind Madison Tripp with 27. Tripp leads Beaver setters with 738 total assists this season. Last week, Tripp lead the NSIC in assists per set, marking 80 in six sets, averaging 13.33 with a .485 assist percentage. In the back row, Ava Boelter leads the team with 282 digs as libero. Taking up the lead spot at the net, sophomore Isabella Vander Velden leads with 53.0 blocks this season, including 12 on her own and averaging .79 per set. 
 
Leading the conference with a perfect 11 wins, WSC holds an overall record of 19-1, landing the Wildcats one shy of the top of the AVCA National Poll. The Wildcats' solo loss came in early September when they were swept in three sets by then No. 5 Ferris State University at the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver, Colo. WSC is on a 13-match winning streak after than loss and is 6-0 at home. 
 
The Wildcat defense boasts the best opponent hitting percentage in the NSIC at just .151 percent. On the flip side, the Wildcats have been able to turn around and produce on offense, marking the best attack efforts as a team with .297. BSU is just two spots behind WSC in conference attacking at .277 percent. Delaney Miller leads the Wildcats with 218 kills this season and takes third in points with 228.5. Leading the scoring efforts is Chloe Hanel with 251.0 points, averaging 2.84 kills per set and 1.13 blocks. At the service line, Mattie Kamery leads with 32 aces this season. 
 
Led by former Beaver Head Coach Erika Bute, Augustana sits one spot down from BSU in the conference rankings with a 5-6 conference record and 11-8 overall. Last weekend, AU took down both Minot State University and University of Mary 3-1 in Sioux Falls, bouncing back from an 0-2 weekend against University of Jamestown and Northern State University. The Vikings will take on No. 17 University of Minnesota Duluth Friday evening before hosting the Beavers. 
 
Reagan Jansen leads the Vikings all across the court this season. She has amassed 226 kills, with a .213 attack percentage, 26 service aces and 225 digs. Jansen has added 14.0 blocks with three solo tallies. Setting up Jansen's success has been Kiylah Franke with 645 total assists this season. At the net, Maya Wente leads the Vikings by a 31.0-block margin, totaling 67.0. 
 
Following this weekend in the southern portion of the NSIC, the Beavers return home Oct. 23, 24 and 27 for a trio of matches. Starting with University of Sioux Falls on Friday, the Beavers will celebrate their Pink Out for Cancer Awareness match and invite fans to join the team in wearing pink and donating to the cause. Saturday's 2 p.m. match will bring the No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs to town and Tuesday's match has University of Minnesota Crookston at 6 p.m.
 
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).