Beavers play Thursday-Saturday matches with Golden Eagles and Bulldogs

The Bemidji State University volleyball team continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend by traveling to face University of Minnesota, Crookston, Thursday, Oct. 28 before returning home to host (RV) University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday, Oct. 30. The Beavers first travel to face the Golden Eagles (1-17, 0-13 NSIC) Thursday at 6 p.m., followed by hosting the Bulldogs (14-7, 7-6 NSIC) Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Beavers return to action after snapping a 20-match losing streak this past weekend and earned their first victory of the season with a 3-0 win at Minot State University. Bemidji State began the weekend by falling at University of Mary in four sets but then rebounded with a three-set sweep over the Beavers. BSU holds a 1-20 record overall and are tied for 14th in the NSIC standings with a 1-12 league record.

Minnesota Crookston enters Thursday’s match with a 1-17 record and are 0-13 in conference play. The Golden Eagles have lost 13 consecutive matches including a three-set loss at Minot State and four-set loss at Mary this past weekend.

Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend’s action after receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll and own a 14-7 record overall and are ninth in the NSIC standings with a 7-6 league record. The Bulldogs have won their last four matches including last weekend after defeating Minnesota State University, Moorhead in three sets followed by a 3-1 win over Northern State University.

Leading Bemidji State this season is senior Anna Averkamp. She has posted a team-high 179 kills in 69 sets for a 2.59 k/s average. She is hitting at a .133 clip this season with 179 kills, 104 errors and 563 attacks which is fourth on the team. Leading the team in hitting percentage is freshman Lauren Sitter who is hitting at a .164 clip with 68 kills, 34 errors and 207 total attacks. Sophomore Rylie Bjerklie is second on the team with 93 kills while junior Meeghen Dahlager follows with 83.

Setting the ball for the Beavers’ offense is freshman Emily Wade who has totaled 517 assists in 70 sets this season and is 11th in the conference with a 7.39 a/s average.

On defense Bemidji State is led by sophomore Madison Weyker who has totaled 208 digs while sophomore Lauren Justesen follows with 1187 digs and Wade follows her with 152 digs. At the net, the Beavers are led by Bjerklie who has totaled 36 blocks (4s-32a) while Sitter follows with 28 (6s-22a) and sophomore Rilee Michaelson has added 17 (0s-17a).

On the serve, Justesen leads the way with 12 service aces while sophomore Maddie Siedenburg follows with 11 and Wade and Weyker have each added 10.