BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball set to host St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato Friday and Saturday in key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference ranking matches. 
 
The Beavers currently rank eighth in the NSIC with an overall record of 13-4 and conference record of 5-4, one spot behind the Huskies and one over the Mavericks. With the top eight teams making the conference tournament, the Beavers will be on the hunt for a pair of wins to push them above the Huskies and into steadier territory as one win separates SCSU and BSU. Following this weekend, the Beavers will have nine matches remaining to secure their spot in the NSIC tournament, including three against teams the Beavers have already gained five wins off of in University of Minnesota Crookston (2-0), University of Mary (2-0) and Minot State University (1-0). Full information on the NSIC tournament, which begins Nov. 10, can be found here.
 
Statistically, the Beaver scoring efforts are led by Ava Athman (258.0), Nevaeh Carlson (228.5) and Ella Kratochvil (211.5). Carlson leads the Beavers' attacking game with 218 kills, followed closely by Athman at 213 with a team-leading attacking percentage of .347. Earlier this week, Athman was named the NSIC's Offensive Player of the week for her 58-kill, .495-attack-percentage week. Setting up the Beaver offense, Madison Tripp leads with 658 total assists this season. She has added 33 kills and 22 service aces. Defensively, sophomore libero Ava Boelter leads the way with 258 digs, followed by Tripp with 169. At the net, Isabella Vander Velden leads the team with 47.0 blocks, 12 solo and 35 assisted, averaging .77 per set. 
 
Sitting in seventh in the NSIC, the Huskies hold a 12-5 overall record, going 6-3 in the conference. SCSU has won its last three matches, taking down Winona State University 3-2 and sweeping Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota State University Moorhead. Similar to the Beavers last week, the Huskies pushed No. 5 Concordia University, St. Paul to five sets two weeks ago, falling 3-2. After this weekend, SCSU heads back on the road to Northern State University and University of Jamestown next week. 
 
Senior outside hitter Shelby Kimm leads the Huskies in scoring this season, grabbing 207.5 points with 187 kills and 11 aces. Helping to set up Kimm's efforts, Braya Laplant leads with 613 assists, averaging 10.95 per set. Laurin Hamann leads the Huskies at the service line with 24 aces this season, followed closely by Laplant who has marked 21. Hamann also leads the team defensively from the back row as the junior libero has grabbed 271 digs this season. At the net, Kinsey Mohwinkle and Hannah Bruskiewicz lead SCSU with 29 and 28 blocks, respectively. 
 
The MSU Mavericks come into the weekend with the only under .500 overall record amongst the top 10 teams in the NSIC at 6-11 overall and have marked a 4-5 record in conference play. They start the weekend with No. 14 University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth before joining the Beavers in Bemidji. MSU has gone 3-3 in its past three matches, being swept three times, sweeping WSU and going to four sets in wins over UMC and MSUM. MSU is one place out of the conference tournament heading into the weekend and will attempt to switch spots with the Beavers to move up in ranking. 
 
Scoring for the Mavericks is relatively evenly spread, ranging from 158.5 to 139.0 points, amongst five student-athletes, Addison Foor, Avery Klein, Olivia Sturgis, Avery Rosenberg and former Beaver Lily Riese. Foor leads the team in kills with 138, followed by Klein and Riese tying at 129. Setting up the offense this season has been Jadyn Lester with 537 assists. Lester also dominates at the service line with 33 aces, leading the NSIC and averaging 0.55 per set. Sturgis leads the Mavericks at the net with 49.0 total blocks this year. In the back row, Savannah Meyer and Lester lead with 167 and 148 digs, respectively. 
 
Next week, the Beavers head back on the road to No. 2 Wayne State College Oct. 16 and Augustana University to take on former Beaver Head Coach Erika Bute on Oct. 17. They return home Oct. 23, 24 and 27 for a trio of matches. Oct. 23 is the Beavers' Cancer Awareness match against USF at 6 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).