SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Bemidji State University Softball lost to Augustana University 3-1 on Saturday. BSU played four tight sets, finishing with scores of 23-25, 25-21, 24-26 and 23-25.
Augie paired a higher kill total with a higher hitting percentage, finishing with 62 kills at .238 while Bemidji State recorded 53 kills at .207. BSU posted advantages in digs (78-66) and total blocks (10-6), and its four service errors were fewer than AU's 14, while Augustana added a 7-4 edge in service aces.
Bemidji State opened the first set with five straight points, with
Madison Tripp assisting kills by
Nevaeh Carlson and
Ava Athman as the visitors built a 5-0 lead. Bemidji St. remained in front at 23-21 after
Isabella Vander Velden's kill from Carlson, but Augustana scored the final four points to take the set 25-23.
The Beavers recovered from an early 3-0 deficit in the second set, tying it at 6-6 on
Ava Athman's kill and moving in front 8-7 on
Nevaeh Carlson's kill. Carlson supplied key points late, including kills that put Bemidji St. up 22-17 and halted an Augustana push at 23-20. Bemidji St. finished the set 25-21 on Lucy Belisle's attack error.
Bemidji St. reached 24-20 on
Ella Kratochvil's kill from Tripp, but Augie scored the final six points to take the set 26-24. Earlier, The Beavers moved from a 10-10 tie to a 16-10 lead behind
Grace Hoffard's kill,
Anna Paquette service stretch, two Athman kills and two block-assisted Viking errors.
BSU held a 22-19 lead late in the fourth set, but AU answered to tie it at 22-22. Bemidji St. went back in front 23-22 on a service error, but Augustana scored the final three points to take the set 25-23.
Carlson finished with a team-high 15 kills and added three block assists. Athman recorded 13 kills, 14 digs, two service aces and four block assists for a team-best 17 points. Tripp posted 43 assists, 15 digs and four kills.
Grace Hoffard collected seven total blocks and added five kills while hitting .400.
Bemidji St. is 14-7 overall and 6-7 in NSIC play. Augustana is 13-8 overall and 7-6 in NSIC play. Up next, Bemidji State hosts University of Sioux Falls on Friday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. at BSU Gymnasium for Pink Out in support of Cancer Awareness.
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).
