ABERDEEN, S.D. — Bemidji State University Volleyball (16-9, 8-9 NSIC) lost to (RV) Northern State University (18-7, 13-4 NSIC) 3-1 on Friday. The Beavers won the opening set 25-19 before dropping the next three 19-25, 18-25, 22-25.
The Beavers recorded 54 kills to the Wolves' 51 and matched them with seven total blocks, while the teams were nearly even in digs at 62-63. Northern State held the advantage in hitting percentage, .243 to .216, and in the service game, finishing with six aces and six errors while the Beavers had three aces and 13 service errors.
The Beavers created separation in the first set with a five-point stretch that turned a 6-5 edge into an 11-5 lead, with
Ella Kratochvil recording a kill and teaming with
Isabella Vander Velden on a block during the run. Northern State got back within 24-19 late, but
Grace Hoffard finished the set with a kill from
Madison Tripp for a 25-19 Beavers win.
Bemidji State could not recover after Northern St. broke a 4-4 tie with five straight points in the second set. The Beavers answered with stretches that included kills from
Ava Athman, Kratochvil and
Nevaeh Carlson, and they made a late push from a 24-15 deficit to 24-19. Northern State finished the set on a service error to take it 25-19.
The Beavers spent the third set chasing after the Wolves turned a 9-5 edge into a 13-5 advantage and later led 18-9. BSU answered with a three-point push on kills by Carlson and Athman, but NSU closed out the set 25-18.
The Beavers rallied from an 8-14 deficit in the fourth set, with
Ava Boelter serving two aces around an Athman kill to pull within 14-12 before the Beavers later tied it at 18-18. The Wolves answered after a 19-19 tie with three straight points, and the Beavers got as close as 23-21 and 24-22 before Northern St. finished the set, 25-22.
Carlson led Bemidji State with 15 kills and hit .333 on 33 attacks. Athman posted a team-high 15.5 points with 14 kills, eight digs and three block assists. Tripp finished with 44 assists, seven digs and three block assists. Boelter collected a team-high 24 digs and added three service aces.
The Beavers are 16-9 overall and 8-9 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. Northern State is 18-7 overall and 13-4 in NSIC play. Up next, Bemidji State travels to Jamestown, N.D., to face University of Jamestown on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 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).
