Beaver Volleyball travels to Wayne State and Augustana
The Bemidji State University volleyball team hits the road for the first time since Sept. 15 to face Wayne State College (Neb.) and Augustana University (S.D.), Oct. 5-6. The Beavers first take on the Wildcats (13-5, 5-4 NSIC) Friday at 6 p.m. followed by the Vikings (5-12, 0-9 NSIC) Saturday at 5 p.m.
The Series
Wayne State: Friday’s meeting between the Wildcats and Beavers will be 32nd of the all-time series dating back to 1995. WSC holds the all-time series at 29-2 and are on a 22-match winning streak against the Beavers. Bemidji State and Wayne State met twice last season. The Beavers fell to the Wildcats 3-0 in both matches. Third-year head coach Kevin Ulmer is 0-3against WSC while 14-year head coach Scott Kneifl is 24-1 against BSU.
Augustana: Saturday’s clash with the Vikings will be the 26th meeting between the two programs with Augie owning the series at 22-3 edge. Augustana has been dominant as of late and have won 11 consecutive matches against BSU. In their last meeting, Augustana earned a 3-0 sweep over the Beavers in Bemidji. Bemidji State head coach Kevin Ulmer is 0-3 against Augie while second year head coach Jennifer Jacobs is 2-0 against BSU.
The Teams
Wayne State: The Wildcats enter the weekend after receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association and are currently tied for seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings with a 5-4 league record. The Wildcats were on the road last weekend and split the weekend’s action with a 3-0 win over St. Cloud State University but fell 3-0 to University of Minnesota Duluth.
The Wildcats are paced on offense by Katie Stephens, Jaci Brahmer, Alyssa Ballenger and Tarrin Beller. Stephens leads the team with 167 kills and averages 2.65 k/s while Brahmer (151, 2.40 k/s), Ballenger (149, 2.37) and Beller (142, 2.25) all closely follow. Megan Gebhardt coordinates the Wildcats’ attack and averages 9.60 assists per set (605).
On defense, Wayne State is led by Haley Kauth in the backcourt who has totaled 281 digs this season and averages 4.46 digs per set. At the net, WSC is led by the league’s top three blockers in Beller, Brahmer and Sophie Wilker. Beller leads the league with 83 blocks (12s-71a) while Brahmer (4s-74a) and Wilker (10s-60a) follow in second and third, respectively.
Augustana: The Vikings enter the weekend’s action tied for 15th in the conference and are currently winless in conference play with an 0-9 record. Augie hosted Concordia University-St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato last weekend and fell to the Golden Bears, 3-2, and Mavericks, 3-1.
The Vikings are led on offense by Courtney Place who ranks fourth in the NSIC by averaging 4.13 kills per set (260). She is followed by Izzy Sommers and Grace Haberland who have totaled 95 and 94 kills, respectively. Avery Thorson coordinates Augie’s attack and averages 9.40 assists per set (536).
On defense, Augustana is led by Kaylea Ahrens in the backcourt who has totaled 236 digs this season and averages 4.14 digs per set. At the net, the Vikings are led by Abby Benson who has totaled 47 total blocks (8s-39a).
Bemidji State: The Beavers enter the weekend 13th in the NSIC with a 2-7 league record and 5-12 overall. Bemidji State hosted University of Sioux Falls and No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State University last weekend where they fell in both games, 3-1 and 3-0, respectively.
The Beavers are led on offense by sophomore Anna Averkamp who has totaled 154 kills (2.57 k/s) on 396 attacks while also hitting at a .205 clip. She is followed by freshman Greta Paszek and Julie Touchett who each have recorded 115 kills. Bemidji State’s attack is coordinated by freshman Mary Campbell who has stepped in to fill setting position after Maddie Mackinac went down with injury. Since taking over the setting duties, Campbell has come on to average 7.85 assists per set and now leads the team with 278 assists.
On the defensive side, BSU is led by junior Emma Hallmann and sophomore Becka Cronin. Hallmann paces the Beavers with 230 digs (3.54 d/s) while Cronin follows with 131 digs (2.05 d/s). At the net, the Beavers are led by Maddie Filipiak who has totaled 50 blocks (6s-44a) while Julie Touchett follows with 40 blocks (15s-25a).