BSU Volleyball hits the road for first NSIC road trip
The Bemidji State University volleyball team will play its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road matches of the season this weekend and will travel to face (RV) Augustana University and No. 8 Wayne State College (Neb.), Sept. 24-25, respectively.
The Beavers (0-11, 0-3 NSIC) eye their first wins of the season and will first face Augustana (6-5, 1-2 NSIC) in Sioux Falls, S.D., Friday at 6 p.m. Bemidji State will then travel to Wayne, Neb., to face No. 8 Wayne State (8-2, 2-1 NSIC) Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Beavers prepare for their road trip after opening NSIC play this past week with home losses against then No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State University, University of Sioux Falls and No. 20 St. Cloud State University. BSU opened NSIC action against SMSU and forced four sets against the now No. 5 Mustangs. Bemidji State then fell in three sets to Sioux Falls but responded later in the week by forcing four sets with the No. 20 Huskies. The Beavers are one of four teams in the league with an 0-3 conference record.
Bemidji State’s attack is led by senior Anna Averkamp who averages 2.76 k/s and has totaled 102 kills off of 331 attacks for a .127 hitting percentage. She is followed by sophomore Hallie Mertz who averages 2.00 k/s and has totaled 46 kills on 136 attacks for a .147 hitting percentage. Junior Rylee Pompa paces the Beavers by hitting at a .169 efficiency (30-17-77) while sophomore Rylie Bjerklie follows closely at .163 efficiency (59-32-166). Bemidji State averages 9.82 k/s as a team which ranks 12th in the NSIC while hitting at a .113 percentage to stand 14th.
The Beavers’ attack is mainly coordinated by freshman setter Emily Wade who has totaled 284 assists in 38 sets for 7.47 a/s which ranks 11th in the NSIC.
Hallie Mertz Postgame Hallie Mertz Postgame
On defense, sophomore Madison Weyker leads the Beavers’ backcourt with 147 digs and ranks 10th in the conference with a 3.87 d/s average. She is followed by Wade with 73 digs and sophomore Lauren Justesen who has added 65. At the net, BSU is paced by Bjerklie who has 24 blocks (1s-3a) while freshman Lauren Sitter follows with 13 (0s-13a).