VOLLEYBALL: BSU's Bethany Thompson reaches 1,000-kill milestone in loss to MSU-Moorhead

MOORHEAD – The Bemidji State volleyball team lost its season finale Saturday, dropping a 25-20, 25-19, 25-17 game to Minneaota State Moorhead Saturday, but senior captain Bethany Thompson reached a milestone.

The senior from Owatonna posted 17 kills to become the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills.

“The team played really well around Bethany to give her what she needed (to reach 1,000 kills),” said BSU head coach Wayne Chadwick. “We really worked incredibly hard to make keep balls in play and get her as many swings as possible. It’s really a testament to her that shows how much her teammates appreciate her and respect her.”

BSU finishes the year at 4-23 overall and 2-18 in the NSIC.

The first set was tightly contested and it took a late run by the Dragons for them to avoid falling behind 1-0. After Bemidji State erased an 8-4 deficit at went back and forth with MSUM through the middle of the set, the Beavers conceded 10 of the final 13 points and lost 25-20. Thompson racked up six kills in the set.

Thompson picked up a match-best eight kills in the second set, but a five-point run by MSU Moorhead broke a 15-15 tie and allowed the Dragons to pull away for a 25-19 win.

Bemidji State got off to a rocky start in the third set and trailed 9-3 out of the gate. MSU Moorhead continued to pull away en route to a 25-17 set win to clinch the 3-0 overall win, but Thompson was able to muster the three kills necessary to get to 1,000.

The senior outside hitter finished her final season with 354 kills, the 11th-most in a single season in program history.

On the day, freshman Courtney Fox made a career-high 19 digs, the third-most for a BSU player all season.

Setter Courtney Volkmann dished out 33 assists and added an ace while fellow Rachel Craig led Bemidji State with four total blocks.