ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball fell to Concordia University, St. Paul 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 15-25, 9-15) on Saturday in St. Paul. The Beavers posted 63 kills and hit .259, while Concordia-St. Paul finished with 66 kills, a .308 hitting percentage and a 12-7 edge in total blocks.
Concordia-St. Paul held advantages in hitting percentage (.308 to .259) and team blocks (12 to seven), and committed seven service errors compared with 11 for the Beavers. The teams were close in several volume categories, with the Beavers finishing with 63 kills, 63 digs and six aces while Concordia-St. Paul had 66 kills, 64 digs and six aces.
Nevaeh Carlson led the Beavers' attack with 21 kills and 22.0 points.
Ava Boelter's service run gave the Beavers separation in the opening set, with two aces helping move the Beavers from 15-13 to 19-13. Concordia-St. Paul got back within 20-19, but the Beavers closed with five of the final six points, including late kills from
Ava Athman and
Ella Kratochvil to finish the set 25-20.
The Beavers opened the second set with kills from Carlson and Athman to build a 3-0 start, and
Anna Paquette and
Isabella Vander Velden later added service aces as the Beavers went ahead 7-3. Concordia-St. Paul answered from a 9-7 deficit with four straight points to move in front 11-9, and the Beavers got back within one at 14-15 on Kratochvil's kill. Carlson and Athman each added late kills, but Concordia-St. Paul closed the set 25-20.
After a 13-12 edge in the third set, the Beavers created separation with kills from
Grace Hoffard and Kratochvil before a Concordia-St. Paul attack error made it 16-12. Concordia-St. Paul got back within 16-14, but the Beavers answered with a Carlson kill and later used late kills from
Madison Tripp, Carlson and Vander Velden to stay in front. The Beavers finished the set on a Concordia-St. Paul attack error for a 25-20 win.
The Beavers had to chase the fourth set after Concordia-St. Paul moved ahead 6-1 and later 11-3. Athman put down a kill and followed with a service ace on consecutive points, then added two more kills, but Concordia-St. Paul closed out the set 25-15.
The Beavers stayed within one late in the fifth set when Carlson's kill from Tripp made it 10-9. Concordia-St. Paul scored the final five points from there, finishing the set on a block for a 15-9 result. Carlson led the Beavers' attack in the set with five kills.
Carlson led the Beavers with 21 kills and 22 points. Athman finished with 16 kills, 11 digs, three block assists and 18.5 points. Tripp recorded 55 assists and added 10 digs. Boelter collected 17 digs and served three aces.
The Beavers are 13-4 overall and 5-4 in NSIC play. Concordia-St. Paul is 12-4 overall and 7-2 in NSIC play. Up next, the Beavers host St. Cloud State University on Friday, Oct. 9, 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).
