WINONA, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball defeated Winona State University 3-1 Friday in Winona, Minn. After dropping the second set, Bemidji State took the lead in the third after trailing by two and won the set 25-23 before closing with a 25-17 fourth set.
BSU produced the stronger attacking line, finishing with 62 kills and a .270 hitting percentage while WSU had 50 kills and hit .226.
Ava Athman supported that production with 23 kills on a .639 percentage, achieving a career-high total of 23 kills. BSU also held an 8-3 advantage in service aces despite WSU's 8-5 edge in blocks.
The Beavers opened the first set with four straight points on
Madison Tripp's serve, including a block by Athman and
Isabella Vander Velden for a 4-0 lead. BSU continued to answer WSU points with kills from Athman,
Ella Kratochvil,
Nevaeh Carlson and Vander Velden, and Tripp's late service ace made it 22-15. Athman delivered Bemidji State's final two points on kills as the Beavers took the set 25-16.
In the second set, Bemidji State erased a 13-8 deficit, getting a Tripp kill, a Carlson kill, a Tripp ace and a Vander Velden kill to pull within 13-12 before later tying the set at 15, 16 and 17.
Kayla Gallagher's service ace put Bemidji State ahead 18-17, but Winona State answered with four straight points and held off late kills from Carlson, Tripp and Athman. Winona State took the set 25-22.
In the third set, BSU closed with three straight points after falling behind 23-22, finishing a 25-23 set win. Athman had kills on four of the Beavers' final five points and teamed with
Grace Hoffard on the block that put Bemidji State in front 24-23 before Athman ended the set from Tripp.
Athman's serve helped Bemidji St. move from a 1-1 tie to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set, with Athman serving consecutive aces before Hoffard added a kill from Tripp. Bemidji State continued to answer Winona St. points with kills from Athman, Carlson and Kratochvil as it kept separation into the closing stretch.
Anna Paquette's ace put BSU ahead 24-17, and Athman's kill from Tripp finished the set, 25-17.
Athman led the Beavers with 23 kills, hit .639 and added two service aces, eight digs and three blocks. Tripp recorded a team-high 48 assists with 14 digs and two aces.
Ava Boelter finished with a team-best 19 digs, three assists and two aces. Carlson added 14 kills on 48 attacks, surpassing the 200 points milestone, reaching a total of 204.
Bemidji State is 13-3 overall and 5-3 in NSIC play while Winona State is 2-12 overall and 1-7 in the conference. Up next, Bemidji State visits Concordia University, St. Paul on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.
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).
