BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball closes out the 2026 season this weekend as they host University of Mary at 6 p.m. Friday for Senior Day and Minot State University at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The Beavers are 16-10 this season and are guaranteed to end the season over .500, a first since Donna Pavilec's 1999 team went 25-7. In the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Beavers will look to finish at .500 with a current 8-10 record. This is also the most conference victories for BSU since
Laurie Bitter coached the team to an 8-12 record in 2009. Yesterday, Bemidji State earned three All-NSIC selections in
Ava Athman (first team),
Madison Tripp and
Nevaeh Carlson (second team). The trio were the first NSIC selections for the Beavers in three years and the first time in 23 years that three Beavers made the list.
Athman leads the Beavers in kills and points this season, marking 333 kills with Carlson close behind at 314. Athman's .316 attacking percentage leads Bemidji State with her 391.5 points. Tripp is the Beavers' lead setter, grabbing 986 assists this season. At the service line and from the back row,
Ava Boelter leads Bemidji State with 31 aces and 412 digs. At the net, the top spot is held by
Isabella Vander Velden with 75 blocks, 14 solo and 61 assisted.
The Mary Marauders are 5-21 this season after the Beavers handed them their first loss of the season on August 28 in Bismarck. BSU and Mary went to five sets that first match, but the Beavers made quick work of the pair's second meeting on September 12, sweeping 3-0 on the road. Last weekend, Mary was able to pick up its fifth win of the year, sweeping University of Minnesota Crookston to close out the Marauders' home schedule.
The Minot State Beavers sit in a similar position to Mary, holding a 5-22 overall record and 1-17 in the conference. Minot State's lone conference victory came last weekend with a Senior Day sweep over UMC on Friday. The MSU Beavers will start the weekend at No. 23 University of Minnesota Duluth Friday night.
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).
