Bemidji State University

MOORHEAD, Minn. — Bemidji State University Volleyball sophomore Nevaeh Carlson recorded a match-high 26 kills and three blocks to power the Beaver volleyball team to a five-set victory over Minnesota State University Moorhead in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday afternoon at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. Carlson's 26 kills tied for the fourth-most in a single match at Bemidji State and her 29 points was the third-most in program history.
 
The Beavers prevailed by scores of 29-27, 21-25, 25-21, 24-26 and 15-10 to improve to 11-3 overall and 3-3 in NSIC play. The Dragons fell to 10-5 overall and 3-3 in the conference. The back-and-forth match featured 48 ties and 19 lead changes.
 
After the teams split the opening four sets, Bemidji State produced its strongest offensive performance of the match in the decisive fifth set. The Beavers totaled 11 kills against just two errors on 18 attacks to hit .500 and secure their first five-set victory since their season-opening tournament.
 
The fifth set was tied five times before the Beavers began to pull away. With the score even at 6-6, consecutive kills from Carlson gave BSU an 8-6 lead. The Dragons pulled within one at 9-8, but Carlson answered with another kill before adding back-to-back terminations to extend the advantage to 12-8. Kelsey Lobitz made it 14-10 before Ella Kratochvil delivered the match-winning kill.
 
The Beavers opened the match with a 29-27 victory in an extended first set. BSU trailed 16-9 before mounting a 10-3 run to tie the frame at 19. After the Dragons fought off set point and moved ahead 27-26, BSU scored the final three points. A block by Isabella Vander Velden, a kill from Kratochvil and an MSU Moorhead attack error completed the comeback.
 
MSU Moorhead answered by taking the second set 25-21, but Bemidji State responded with a 25-21 victory in the third. With BSU holding a 16-15 advantage, the Beavers used a 5-1 run to create separation. Ava Athman supplied a kill and an ace during the run, while Carlson added another termination before Lobitz closed the set with a kill.
 
The Dragons forced a deciding set by edging BSU 26-24 in the fourth. Bemidji State fought back from a 24-22 deficit and tied the set on an ace from Ava Boelter, but MSU Moorhead captured the next two rallies to extend the match.
 
Carlson led all players with 26 kills on 68 attacks for a .265 hitting percentage. Carlson also totaled six digs and three solo blocks to finish with a match-high 29 points. Kratochvil followed with 19 kills and two blocks, while Athman added 12 kills, two service aces and a .313 hitting percentage.
 
Lobitz contributed nine kills and hit .273, while Vander Velden finished with four kills, three solo blocks and a .308 attacking percentage. Madison Tripp directed the BSU offense with 59 assists and added 10 digs for a double-double. Boelter anchored the back row with a match-high 22 digs and added two aces, while Taylor Martin contributed 11 digs.
 
The Beavers finished with season highs of 72 kills and 65 assists while hitting .258 as a team. BSU also totaled 73 digs, eight blocks and seven service aces. The Dragons recorded 62 kills, 85 digs, seven blocks and 12 aces while hitting .208.
 
The Beavers continue their road trip Tuesday, Sept. 29, when they travel to Crookston, Minn., to face the University of Minnesota Crookston. The NSIC match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State volleyball program tickets or schedules visit BSUBeavers.com. Be sure to follow the Beavers on their social media channels on X, Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
--bsu—