Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Northern State Wolves committed just seven attacking errors and held the host Bemidji State Beavers to just .008 at the net (31 kills, 30 errors, 120 attempts) and cruised to a straight sets (25-17, 25-15, 25-17) victory over the Beavers Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action.
 
The win snaps a three-match slide for the Wolves, who moved to 12-11 overall and 7-9 in conference play.  BSU had won two straight entering Saturday's action, but dropped to 6-18 overall and 3-13 in the loop.
 
NSU jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the first set behind a 6-0 run and never looked back.  Kaili Aiono put down four kills in the effort, while sophomore Paula Martins finished off the win with her second kill of the set.
 
The Wolves continued the strong play to start the second set, racing to an early 7-0 lead capped by back-to-back Paula Martins/Morgan Richardson stuff blocks.  Bemidji State clambered back to within three at 11-8 and forcing an NSU timeout, but that would be as close as the Beavers would get, as the Wolves closed the set on a 10-5 run and took a 2-0 match lead into the intermission.
 
In set three, it was the Beavers who jumped out to the early advantage, leading 8-4 and again forcing the Wolves to burn an early timeout.  NSU closed to 14-11, then reeled off eight straight points in a run that featured only two NSU kills.
 
The Beavers responded with three straight points to make it a 19-17 affair, but another 6-0 NSU streak finished off the set and match.
 
Redshirt freshman Carli Peterson had 12 kills and a pair of service aces to lead the Wolves' offensive effort, while Martins added seven kills and five blocks.  Richardson, aside from her 28 assists, dished up three service aces and another five blocks.
 
BSU was led by Bethany Thompson's 13 kills.  No other Bemidji State player notched more than five kills on the night.
 
Northern State remains on the road next weekend to face Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 4-5 before returning home for the final weekend of the season.