The Bemidji State University volleyball team comes into the final weekend of matches with a 5-21 record overall and a 1-17 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. Last weekend the Beavers dropped a pair of road contests against No. 1 Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato by identical 3-0 scores.
The Beavers have been led this season by its setter Courtney Volkmann (Jr., Wadena, Minn.). Volkmann currently paces BSU in assists (793), service aces (26) and is second on the squad in digs (221). In addition to Volkmann, the BSU offense has largely been run through two freshmen. Jessica Yost (OH, Bemidji, Minn.) and Amanda Tronick (OH, Hutchinson, Minn.) have both totaled over 200 kills in their freshman campaigns with totals of 306 and 208, respectively.
Defensively, Bemidji State has been led by sophomore Kayla DeJong (DS, Jefferson, Wis.) who has tallied a team-leading 376 digs so far this season. On the block, Rachel Craig (MB, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) and Chelsea Frison (MB, So., Whitewater, Wis.) have accounted for 86 percent of the Beavers’ blocks this season.
Trends for the Beavers:
• Youth Movement: Offensively, the Beavers have been led by some of the youngest players on the roster. In 21 of Bemidji State’s 24 contests this season, a freshman has led or was tied for the lead in kills in the match. Jessica Yost has led the team 20 times while fellow freshman Amanda Tronick has led the squad three times.
• Serving up Success: One key for the Beavers when they have had success is the ability to get service aces. BSU is 3-4 when it has more service aces than their opponents but 2-17 when it doesn’t.
• Success in the Second: Four of the five wins BSU has this season came after it won the second set. When the Beavers don’t win the second set, they are 1-20.
Records/Accomplishments for BSU
• Courtney Volkmann continues to move up Bemidji State’s all-time assist list. With 44 assists within last week’s action, Volkmann has 1,709 career assists. The BSU setter needs only 97 assists to tie her former teammate Jessi-Beth McCannell for ninth all-time in that category.
• Rachel Craig has set a new career-high in kills this season with 214. She is currently second on the team in that category behind Jessica Yost who has 306.
Scouting the Opponents
Upper Iowa (8-20 overall, 4-14 NSIC): The Peacocks have had a down season under third year head coach Aaron Nelson. UIU won 16 matches last season and have won just half of that total this year entering the final weekend of the 2013 campaign. The strength of this year’s version of UIU is its blocking ability. The Peacocks have out blocked their opponents 196 to 179 and currently rank seventh in the NSIC in that category.
Offensively, Upper Iowa is led by Jennifer Mundt who leads the team with 315 kills this season. Defensively, Amanda Weiss leads the way with 4.12 digs per set.
In the all-time series between Bemidji State and Upper Iowa, the Beavers have won 12 of the 17 meetings including BSU’s lone conference victory of the season on Sept. 28 at Upper Iowa, 3-2. The Beavers’ last home victory against UIU came Oct. 16, 2010.
Winona State (10-17 overall, 7-11 NSIC): Like UIU, Winona State is having a down season after having a fairly successful one last year. The Warriors won 20 games in 2012, and have dipped to 10 wins in 2013. Although its record is below .500, WSU is still a dangerous team as it upset one of the NSIC’s better teams, Wayne State, in October.
Individually, the Warriors are led by Bekah Saugen and Katie Froehle, who are No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in both kills and digs. On the block, WSU is led by Kathleen Omelina who has tallied 68 totals blocks this season.
Winona State has been one of the Beavers’ more common opponents over the years as the two schools have met a total of 90 times. WSU holds a slim 46-44 advantage in the all-time series, including a 3-0 victory over the Beavers on Sept. 27 this season in Winona, Minn.