BISMARCK, N.D. — Bemidji State University (4-0, 0-0 NSIC) continued their strong performance at the Marauders First Serve Invitational with a 3-1 victory over Montana State University Billings (0-3, 0-0 Great Northwest) and a decisive 3-0 win against Black Hills State University (2-2, 0-0 RMAC) at McDowell Activity Center on Saturday. Head Coach
Hahni Johnson's 4-0 record is the best start to a BSU head coach's career since Jan Gudknecht went 4-0 her first season in 1977.
The set scores against Montana State were 20-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-19, while they swept Black Hills State with scores of 25-16, 25-17, and 25-19. Bemidji State recorded a hitting percentage of .378 against Montana State and .289 against Black Hills, while holding the Yellowjackets to a .147 hitting percentage and the Black Hills team to .034.
Against Montana State, the Beavers began the first set with a strong defensive presence, securing early points through blocks from
Kayla Gallagher and
Ella Kratochvil. Despite a back-and-forth scoreline, Montana State managed to close out the set 25-20. However, Bemidji State responded impressively, securing the second set 25-16 with strong offensive plays from
Nevaeh Carlson and Kratochvil, along with a series of service aces from Kratochvil.
In the third set, the Beavers capitalized on attack errors from the Yellowjackets, quickly jumping to a 5-0 lead and closing the set decisively at 25-12. The fourth set saw Carlson and Athman lead the charge with critical kills, concluding the match with a 25-19 victory. Kratochvil stood out with 14 kills and a .429 hitting percentage, while Athman recorded nine kills and five block assists, and Tripp contributed 40 assists.
In their matchup against Black Hills State, Bemidji State opened the first set with strong defense, gaining an early edge through blocks by
Isabella Vander Velden and
Nevaeh Carlson. The Beavers quickly regained momentum after a brief tie, with Carlson achieving a season-high of 13 kills. The first set concluded at 25-16, followed by a second set where Bemidji State pulled ahead midway through, finishing at 25-17 thanks to Athman's impactful plays.
The third set featured more momentum-building plays, including a service ace by
Kayla Gallagher and key contributions from Carlson and Tripp. The Beavers sealed the match with a 25-19 victory, showcasing their offensive strength throughout the tournament. Athman led the team against Black Hills with nine kills and four service aces, while Tripp facilitated the attack with 29 assists.
Bemidji State's current record stands at 4-0, while Montana State Billings is 0-3 and Black Hills State is 2-2. Looking ahead, the Beavers are set to face California State University San Marcos on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. in San Diego, California.
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).
