Beaver Volleyball travels to Nashville for Ray Thrasher Classic this Friday and Saturday
The Bemidji State University Volleyball team will travel to the Music City this Friday and Saturday when they will compete in the Ray Thrasher Classic.
BSU will see No. 25 Lynn at 9 a.m. and Alabama-Huntsville at 3 p.m. on Friday. Then on Saturday, the Beavers will face Carson-Newman at 11 a.m. and host Trevecca Nazarene at 7 p.m.
This will be the first of two tournaments to open the 2023 season. After Nashville, BSU will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to compete in the Mountain Lion Classic (Sep. 8-9).
Bemidji State opened 2022 competing in the Northern Michigan Tournament going 1-3. The Beavers played a pair of five-set matches, falling just short to Cedarville, before defeating Lake Superior State in five.
Senior outside hitter Hallie Mertz returns after leading the Beavers in kills (285) and digs (27) last season. She also added 27 service aces and 25 blocks. Mertz posted multiple kills in every match, reaching 10 or more in 18 matches, with a high of 18 twice against Minnesota Crookston and UMary. She collected six double-doubles (kills-digs), reaching double-digits in digs seven times with a high of 22 also against Minnesota Crookston.
Junior middle/opposite Lauren Sitter was second on the team in 2022 in kills (165) and was tied for third in blocks (35). Senior middle Rylie Bjerklie led the Beavers in blocks (55) and was fourth on the team in kills (119) and service aces (15). Junior outside hitter Ashley Crowl added 87 kills, was tied for second on the team in service aces with 18 and was fourth in digs with 161. Junior setter Emily Wade and sophomore setter Hally Holker shared the setting duties in 2022. Wade led the team with 439, with Holker adding 415.
Bemidji State will have five seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen on the 2023 roster.
No. 25 Lynn went 24-6 a season ago, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II National Championship. Top offensive threat Paige Barash is back after posting 367 kills, 43 service aces and 272 digs. The Knights also return setter Emily Edwards who had 1,140 assists. This will be the first meeting between the teams.
Alabama-Huntsville went 16-16 a season ago, making it to the second round of the Gulf South Conference Championships. Top offensive threat Gracie McGee is back after tallying 269 kills, while Caroline Moyer returns following 225 kills in 2022. Setter Savannah Rutledge is back after dishing out 535 assists. Libero Tatiana Bonilla returns on the back row following a team-high 316 digs. Kiara Hill had a team-high 82 blocks and returns for the 2023 season. This will be the first meeting between the teams.
Carson-Newman went 27-6 a season ago, reaching the first round of the NCAA Division II National Championship. Top offensive threat Julia Wheeler returns after a big 2022 campaign posting 504 kills, 316 digs and 40 blocks. This will be the second meeting between the teams having faced each other back in 2015 on a neutral floor in Michigan with Carson-Newman claiming the 3-0 victory.
Trevecca Nazarene went 21-12 a season ago, advancing to the Great Midwest Championship match. As the host of the tournament this week, Trevecca Nazarene went 11-2 in home matches a season. The Trojans won’t have top offensive threat back in Ellie Buffler who posted 396 kills, but Emma Titus is back after 268 kills a season ago. Setter Emilee McDonald returns after dishing out 1,005 assists. On the back row, outside hitter Maddie Wilds led the team with 380 digs and libero Katie Crutchfield had 323 digs. Both will be back for the 2023 season. This will be the first meeting between the teams.