BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball (15-8, 7-8 NSIC) lost to No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State University (18-4, 12-3 NSIC) 3-0 Saturday at BSU. BSU finished with 30 kills and a .089 hitting percentage, compared with 37 kills and a .266 mark for SMSU.
The Beavers finished with 20 attack errors, while the Mustangs had eight. SMSU also held advantages at the service line and net with 11 aces and 10 total blocks compared with five aces and six blocks for BSU, while the dig totals were nearly even at 53-52.
BSU cut into the first-set deficit with three straight points, getting a
Madison Tripp kill, a
Nevaeh Carlson kill and a Carlson block to pull within 17-16. SMSU answered with four straight points to move ahead 22-17, but the Beavers responded with a Carlson block and a Tripp service ace to reach 22-20. The Mustangs closed the set from there, taking it 25-20.
The Beavers' best stretch came early in the second set, when
Ava Boelter served two aces and assisted
Ella Kratochvil during a six-point surge that moved BSU from down 4-1 to ahead 7-4. The Mustangs answered to tie it at 7-7 and later pushed the margin to 18-12, leaving BSU chasing the set despite late kills from
Ava Athman, Kratochvil and
Isabella Vander Velden. SMSU took the set 25-18.
BSU fell behind 5-0 to open the third set before
Ava Athman's kill and consecutive Boelter service aces cut the deficit to 5-3. The Beavers later got kills from Athman and Kratochvil around a Mustang error to make it 13-10, but the Mustangs answered with four straight points and kept control. Carlson added three kills in the set, including one at 24-16, before Southwest Minnesota State closed out the set 25-16.
Boelter recorded four service aces and 12 digs for BSU. Tripp finished with 24 assists, eight digs and one ace. Carlson posted eight kills, two solo blocks and 10 points. Athman added eight kills, eight digs and one solo block.
BSU is 15-8 overall and 7-8 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. SMSU is 18-4 overall and 12-3 in NSIC play. Up next, BSU hosts the University of Minnesota Crookston on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. at BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji, 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).
