BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball is set to host its first home weekend of the season with (RV) University of Jamestown Friday at 6 p.m. and Northern State University Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Beavers remain undefeated this season, going 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. They are one of just seven remaining NCAA Division II programs with a perfect record, and one of 35 in the entire NCAA. The Beavers are also on a 24-set undefeated streak that began Aug. 29 at the University of Mary Marauder First Serve Invite against Montana State University Billings.
Ella Kratochvil leads the Beaver attack unit with 120 kills so far this season. She has earned BSU 127 total points, adding three aces, a solo block and six assisted. Leading the offensive system,
Madison Tripp has marked 350 total assists, averaging 10.29 per set, and is now just 19 assists away from the 1000 career assists mark as a sophomore. At the service line, sophomore
Kayla Gallagher takes the lead with 19 service aces. On defense, the sophomore class continues to shine as
Ava Boelter leads from the back row with 125 digs and
Isabella Vander Velden is the Beavers' top blocker with 28.0.
The UJ Jimmies are 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC. BSU holds a 5-3 all-time series advantage over UJ, but last season the Jimmies came away with a 3-2 win over the Beavers for the first time since 1994. Last weekend, UJ took down Minnesota State University Moorhead and University of Minnesota Crookston, going to four sets versus MSUM and sweeping UMC. Following Friday's game, the Jimmies travel to Duluth for a 1 p.m. first serve against No. 23 University of Minnesota Duluth.
Matching the Beavers'
Ella Kratochvil in 120 kills this season is UJ's Gracie Adamson. On the assists front, Ava Bertsch leads for UJ with 227, followed closely by Kate Wiebesiek with 172. Bertsch, along with Momoka Minamiya, lead the way in service aces with 13 each. On defense, Sophie Ketterling leads the Jimmies with 211 digs and Caroline Puetz leads in blocks with 36.0.
The Northern State Wolves are sitting at 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC after sweeping UMC and MSUM last weekend. They will have their second taste of NCAA ranked competition with a trip to UMD Friday night. Defensively, Lydia Nelson leads NSU with 32.0 blocks so far this season, 14 more than her next closest teammate. In the back row, Ashley Yost leads with 164 digs. On the attack, Linnea Nesheim leads with 148 kills, followed closely by Katelynn Schroeder at 133. Setting up the attack, Ava Nilsson leads with 452 assists this season. Nesheim was named AVCA's National Player of the week last week after posting 5.50 kills and a .439 attack percentage with 37 points. Nesheim and Nilsson were also the NSIC's Offensive Player and Setter of the Week.
Prior to this Saturday's match, the Beavers will host a special recognition ceremony for their parents during starting lineups. To kick off Homecoming festivities next week, the Beavers will host No. 23 UMD at 6 p.m. Thursday before traveling to Moorhead, Minn. to faceoff against MSUM at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
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).
