Bemidji State University

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Bemidji State University Volleyball team defeated University of Minnesota, Crookston 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-22) Saturday in its final match of the Fall Cougar Classic in San Diego, Calif. The Beavers hit .363 with 47 kills and eight aces and have now won 18 straight sets and eight straight matches to tie for the program's third-best start to a season.
 
Nevaeh Carlson led the Beavers with 15 kills and 15 points while hitting .483. Madison Tripp finished with 31 assists and 11 digs. Ella Kratochvil added 12 kills, 13.5 points and two total blocks, while Isabella Vander Velden recorded four kills, three service aces and one block assist.
 
Bemidji State turned the first set into a 25-13 win, moving from an early Carlson-led start to a late finish in which Grace Hoffard recorded the final two points on kills. Earlier, Carlson scored the first three BSU points, with Vander Velden assisting the opener and Tripp setting the next two for a 3-0 lead. Ava Athman added a kill as the Beavers moved in front 5-1, and Minnesota Crookston worked back within 5-3 and later 8-6 behind kills from Madison Carsten and Brooklyn Gysbers. Athman, Kratochvil and Hoffard added kills through the middle of the set, and Carlson's consecutive kills from Tripp pushed Bemidji State ahead 13-7. After another Carlson kill made it 17-9, Kratochvil and Vander Velden helped BSU extend the advantage with two Kratochvil kills and a Vander Velden service ace before Hoffard closed the set.
 
After the Golden Eagles scored the first point on Brooklyn Gysbers' kill, Carlson put Bemidji State on the board and Kayla Gallagher served three aces during a five-point service turn that gave the Beavers a 6-1 lead in the second set. After a Minnesota Crookston sideout, a service error returned the ball to the Beavers, and Vander Velden served four straight points, including an ace, as BSU moved ahead 11-2. The Beavers kept the pressure on from there, as Athman and Kratochvil supplied kills during a push that stretched the score to 13-3. UMC put together four straight points from 16-5 to 16-9, including consecutive Madison Carsten kills, but a service error stopped the run. Bemidji State stayed in front from there, getting a late Vander Velden ace, a Katie Brandl ace and Hoffard's kill to finish the set 25-13.
 
Bemidji State held off Minnesota Crookston's mid-set push in the third set, answering after the Golden Eagles pulled within 15-14 and closing a 25-22 set win. Earlier, Tripp assisted kills by Carlson, Vander Velden, Athman and Hoffard, and Vander Velden teamed with Kratochvil on a block as Bemidji State built a 7-2 lead. BSU led 15-9 before UMC scored five straight points behind two Brooklyn Gysbers kills, two Adrienne Venditto service aces and a Beaver attack error. A service error, an Athman ace and an attack error moved Bemidji State to 18-14. Carlson added kills for 21-17 and 22-18, Athman followed with a kill for 23-20, and Vander Velden and Kratochvil recorded the final two BSU kills, with Kratochvil finishing the set with a kill from Tripp.
 
The Beavers improve to 8-0 overall as the non-conference season comes to an end while the Golden Eagles fall to 1-6.
 
Up next, Bemidji State beings Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action by traveling to Minot, N.D., to face Minot State University on Friday, Sept. 11 and the University of Mary Saturday.
 
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).
 
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