BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball travels to San Marcos, Calif. Thursday through Saturday to take part in the California State University, San Marcos Fall Cougar Classic. BSU will play four matches over the three-day tournament.
 
The Beavers kick off their time at the tournament Thursday at 7 p.m. CST against hosts Cal State San Marcos. Along with Saint Michael's College and University of California, Merced, the Beavers will be playing three of the four matches against teams never before seen in program history. CSUSM is currently 1-2 this season after falling to University of Sioux Falls and Northwest Nazarene University and defeating Dominican University of California last weekend. CSUSM's offense is dominated by senior hitter Addison Kranz who has marked 53 kills in three matches. The Cougars' lead setter is sophomore Blair Keith who has totaled 120 assists, averaging 9.23 per set. 
 
Friday morning the Beavers take on Saint Michael's at 11 a.m. CST. The Purple Knights are also 1-2 this season after falling in their first two matches of the season, then defeating Assumption University 3-1. Offensively, Rory Tower and Tessa LaFrenier lead the charge with 28 kills each. They have been assisted, primarily, by Abby Crowley who has tabbed 57 total assists, averaging 4.75 per set. Tower also leads the charge in blocks with two solo and 12 assisted. 
 
Also on Friday, the Beavers take on UCM at 4 p.m. CST. The Bobcats have yet to find a win this season, falling 3-1 to Jessup University to start the season, then losing in straight sets to University of Hawai'i at Hilo and Western Oregon University. UCM will start the tournament facing University of Minnesota Crookston on Thursday. The Bobcat offense is headlined by Natalie Riley who has earned 37 kills this season, averaging 3.70 per set. Kyra Miller is the team's lead setter with 87 assists in 10 sets played. 
 
Rounding out the weekend, the Beavers will see some familiar faces in the UMC Golden Eagles, preparing both teams for Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play to kick off next week. Minnesota Crookston sits at 1-3 after spending last weekend in Rapid City, S.D. for the South Dakota School of Mines Hardrocker Tournament. The Golden Eagles won 3-2 over Lake Superior State University, but fell in straight-sets to SD Mines, University of Jamestown and Chadron State College. Setting up the offense, Ellery Ehresmann and Brook Orazem lead the Golden Eagles with a combined 103 assists over four matches. Their efforts have put Lexi Scharold and Penelope Vertin at the top of UMC's leaderboard for kills with 15 each. Freshman middle Jacelyn Crane is leading the charge at the net, assisting on 14 blocks in her first four collegiate matches. 
 
Next week, the Beavers turn around and head back to North Dakota to kick off NSIC play at Minot State University and the University of Mary. The team will then return home to host three matches against University of Jamestown, Northern State University and University of Minnesota Duluth.
 
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).