The Bemidji State University volleyball team returns to BSU gymnasium this weekend as it takes on University of Mary (3-13 overall, 0-9 NSIC) Friday October 18 at 7 p.m. and Minot State University (7-11 overall, 3-6 NSIC) Saturday October 19 at 4 p.m.
Recapping last week:
• The Bemidji State University volleyball team is coming into this weekend with a 5-12 record overall and a 1-8 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. BSU’s lone conference win came on Sept. 28 against Upper Iowa University, 3-2. This past weekend the Beavers dropped a pair of matches to Northern State University and Minnesota State University-Moorhead by identical 3-0 scores.
• BSU has been led overall on the season by junior setter Courtney Volkmann (Wadena, Minn.). Volkmann is averaging 8.59 assists per game while leading the team in that category with 550 assists. She is also first on the team in service aces with 18 thus far. Offensively, the Beavers are led by Jessica Yost (OH, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.), who has the team lead in kills with 210. Defensively, Kayla DeJong (L/DS, So., Jefferson, Wis.) comes into the weekend averaging 3.89 digs per set. Chelsea Frison (MB, So., Whitewater, Wis.) and Rachel Craig (MB, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) lead the Beavers on the block, averaging 0.67 blocks per game.
• In the match against Northern State University, The Beavers had a tough time slowing down Northern State University Oct. 11. As a team, NSU hit .368 while BSU hit .090. The highest attacking percentage by BSU came in the first frame when it hit a combined .237, but that was over a hundred points lower than NSU’s lowest attacking percentage in a set, .343.
• In the loss to MSU Moorhead, Bemidji State had some good things happen in the match in a losing effort. BSU’s defense had one of its best outings of the season, posting 51 digs and six blocks.
Keys to Success for the Beavers:
• Balance: In a change of pace, the Beavers had one of their best defensive matches of the season Oct. 12. The Beavers had four players with at least seven digs and that group was led by Kayla DeJong with 21. It was the seventh time this season DeJong has had 20-or-more digs in a match. On the blocking side of things, Craig led the way with four block assists. Molly Monahan (OH, 5-11, So., Hutchinson, Minn.) also chipped in three block assists.
• Fast Start: When the Beavers win the first set, they are 3-4 compared to 2-8 when they don’t.
• Lull in the Middle: The Beavers do their best at the beginning and at the end of matches. The win percentages for the Beavers by set are as follows: first .412, second .294, third .177, fourth and fifth sets .500.
Records/Accomplishments for BSU
• Courtney Volkmann continues to move up Bemidji States’ all-time assist list. With 47 assists during last weekend’s action, Volkmann has 1,463 career assists. The BSU setter needs only 343 assists to tie her former teammate Jessi-Beth McCannell for ninth all-time in that category.
• Yost continues to be one of the main offensive players for the Beavers in her freshman season. She currently leads BSU in kills with 210. Yost is trying to become the first freshman to lead Bemidji State in kills since Nicole Olson did it in 2007. After this weekend’s action, Yost is currently ranked tenth in the NSIC in kills per set. (3.31)
Previewing the Upcoming Week
• U-Mary: University of Mary comes into the weekend still in search of its first conference victory. U-Mary is coming off two home losses to University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University by identical 3-0 scores. The 2013 version of the Marauders is led by Alexis Jacobs who has a team-leading 157 kills this season. Jacobs has over 25 percent of U-Mary’s total kills this season (572). The strongest part of U-Mary’s squad is arguably its blocking ability. The Marauders are outblocking opponents, 114-97. The blocking efforts are spearheaded by Paige Smith who has almost exactly half of the total (56, 3BS, 53BA).
In the all-time series, the Beavers hold a 11-8 advantage over the Marauders. BSU has won six of the past 10 meetings between the two schools. The two teams split the two meetings last season.
• Minot State: Minot State University Head Coach Travis Ward has led his squad to a bounce-back season as his team has more wins already (7) than it had all of last season (6). Minot State has had a major roster overhaul over the past year. The 2013 roster includes ten new players. Putting things in perspective, the Beavers only had nine players coming back from the 2012 team. The Beavers are led by Jen Dixon who has made her mark in almost every category. Dixon leads the team in kills (222), service aces (24), and digs (208).
Bemidji State has won six of the seven meetings between the schools. Minot State won its first match in the series last season with a 3-0 victory last season in Minot, N.D.