MINOT, N.D. — Bemidji State University Volleyball defeated Minot State University 3-0 Friday, winning 25-22, 25-19, 25-15 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opening play. Bemidji State finished with 43 kills and a .177 hitting percentage while holding Minot State to 22 kills and a .007 mark.
In the first set, BSU overcame an early 6-2 deficit, using a six-point stretch on
Kayla Gallagher's serve to move ahead 10-7 behind blocks from
Madison Tripp,
Ava Athman and
Anna Paquette and kills by
Ella Kratochvil and Athman. The Beavers stayed in front late, with
Nevaeh Carlson's kill making it 22-19 before MSU pulled within 23-22. BSU finished the set on back-to-back MSU attack errors to take it 25-22.
Bemidji State took the second set 25-19, using early kills from
Isabella Vander Velden, Kratochvil and
Grace Hoffard to build a 7-3 lead. After Minot State cut a 19-13 deficit to 19-17, the Beavers answered with a Carlson kill, an Athman kill, and later two more Athman kills to close out the set.
A 9-8 Bemidji State lead became 15-8 with six straight points, a stretch that included a Hoffard kill, an
Ava Boelter service ace and a Tripp kill. When Minot State cut it to 15-11, Bemidji State answered with five consecutive points to move ahead 20-11. Kratochvil put down the final point from Tripp as Bemidji State won the set 25-15.
Kratochvil led BSU with 13 kills and added three digs. Athman finished with 11 kills on .321 hitting, seven digs, three blocks and a service ace. Tripp recorded 36 assists, 12 digs and three kills. Boelter collected 23 digs and added two service aces.
Bemidji State is 9-0 overall and 1-0 in NSIC play. The Beavers are the only remaining team in the NSIC with a perfect record. Minot State is 3-6 overall and 0-1 in NSIC play. Up next, BSU travels to Bismarck, N.D., to face University of Mary on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.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).
