The Bemidji State University volleyball team (5-15 overall, 1-11 NSIC) hits the road as they take on No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State (15-5 overall, 10-2 NSIC) Friday at 7 p.m. and the University of Sioux Falls (13-8 overall, 5-7 NSIC) Saturday at 4 p.m.
Recapping last week:
• The Bemidji State University volleyball team is coming into this weekend with a 5-15 record overall and a 1-11 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. This past week, the Beavers dropped all three home matches, to University of Mary, Minot State University and University of Minnesota Crookston by scores of 3-2, 3-0, 3-1, respectively.
• Against U-Mary, the Beavers were in position to get a victory after leading 2-1 going into the fourth set, but the Marauders rallied and won the next two sets. The key to U-Mary’s victory was its ability to dig up BSU’s attack attempts. The Marauders dug up 92 of the Beavers’ 179 total attack attempts (roughly 51%).
• In the match against Minot State, BSU did have a couple standout performances from Rachel Craig (MB, 6-2, Jr., Wadena, Minn.), who posted 10 kills and hit .364 for the match, and Courtney Volkmann (S, 5-7, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) totaled 26 assists, nine digs, six kills, two blocks and a couple service aces. The Beavers also out-blocked MISU 8-3 in the match.
• In the loss to UMC, Bemidji State freshmen Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Bemidji, Minn.) and Amanda Tronick (OH, 6-1, Hutchinson, Minn.) led BSU’s offense. Yost led the team with 17 kills and Tronick chipped in 11 kills and hit a season-best .400 on 25 opportunites. Defensively, Kayla DeJong (DS, 5-8, So., Jefferson, Wis.) had 24 digs, marking the ninth time she has posted at least 20 digs this season
Trends for the Beavers:
• Youth Movement: Offensively, the Beavers have been led by some of the youngest players on the roster. In 17 of Bemidji State’s 20 contests this season, a freshman has led or was tied for the lead in kills in the match. Jessica Yost has led the team 14 times while fellow freshman Amanda Tronick has led the squad three times.
• Fast Start: When the Beavers win the first set, they are 3-6 compared to 2-9 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 .450, second .250, third .200, fourth .364 and fifth sets .429.
Records/Accomplishments for BSU
• Courtney Volkmann continues to move up Bemidji State’s all-time assist list. With 101 assists within last week’s action, Volkmann has 1,564 career assists. The BSU setter needs only 242 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 251. Yost is trying to become the first freshman to lead Bemidji State in kills since Nicole Olson did so in 2007 with 294. After this week’s action, Yost is currently ranked tenth in the NSIC in kills. (251)
Scouting the Opponents
Southwest Minnesota State (15-5 overall, 10-2 NSIC): The No. 6 ranked Mustangs are trying to stop a rare two-game losing streak when they play the Beavers this weekend. The Mustangs were on an 11-game winning streak, but have dropped two straight to No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul and University of Sioux Falls. SMSU has been one of the most consistently successful programs in Division II volleyball. The Mustangs have been ranked for 100 consecutive weeks in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top 25 poll. SMSU’s recent sucess has been predicated largely due to head coach Terry Culhane’s influence. Culhane recently picked up his 250th career victory.
University of Sioux Falls (13-8 overall, 5-7 NSIC): In its second season in the Division II ranks, the Cougars have been a much improved squad. It had its biggest victory as a D-II member as it knocked off No. 6 SMSU Tuesday evening. One of the keys to USF’s success has been its serving ability. The Cougars currently lead the NSIC with 155 service aces which is 38 more than the second place team, Minot State.