BU sweeps Mystics in Frontier Conference opener

Box Score
Frontier Standings

BISMARCK, N.D. -- No. 3-ranked Bellevue University opened Frontier Conference play with a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-18, 25-18) over Bismarck State College on Friday evening at the BSC Armory. The Bruins improved to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Mystics dropped to 2-4 (0-2 FC).

Bellevue hit .386 as a team, committing just five errors on 83 total attacks. The Bruins added eight service aces, 31 digs, and a 71.9 percent side-out rate.

Eve Fountain led the way with eight kills on 18 errorless swings (.444), while also contributing eight digs, a service ace, and four assists. Kealy Kiviniemi added nine kills and a .412 attack percentage. Mila Aiwohi paced the offense with 14 assists and chipped in five digs and an ace. Ali Butler recorded three service aces and five digs.

Bismarck State was led by Reese Duchsherer's seven kills and five digs, while Emerson Carufel hit .385 with six kills. Kate Zimmer directed the offense with 11 assists and added six digs. 

Set 1: Bellevue 25, Bismarck State 20

The Bruins used a key mid-set surge to take control of the first frame and held off Bismarck State down the stretch for a 25-20 win. After an early 6-6 tie, BU reeled off seven of the next nine points—highlighted by a trio of service aces from Butler to build a 13-8 advantage.

Kiviniemi and Fountain contributed kills during the run, and Savanna Berger later added a key kill to help BU maintain a multi-point lead. The Mystics cut the deficit to 19-16 after a pair of attacking errors and a kill by Reese Duchsherer, prompting a BU timeout.

Out of the break, Butler registered a kill to help swing momentum back in BU's favor. The Bruins reached set point at 24-20 following another Berger kill and clinched the set on a BSC attack error.

Set 2: Bellevue 25, Bismarck State 18

Tied 6-6 early in the second set, Bellevue used a 7-3 stretch to pull ahead 13-9, capitalizing on multiple BSC miscues and kills from Wale and Kiviniemi. Aiwohi added a service ace during the run, and Fountain chipped in a kill to help the Bruins gain control.

BSC trimmed the deficit to 15-12, but Bellevue responded with a 4-1 spurt that included a kill by Runyan, an error by Duchsherer, and another swing from Fountain. After a side-out kill by Thomas made it 23-17, the Bruins closed the set with a service error by the Mystics and a kill from Kiviniemi to take the frame, 25-18. 

Set 3: Bellevue 25, Bismarck State 18

BSC grabbed an early 4-1 edge before Bellevue answered by scoring six consecutive points to move in front, 7-4. That surge included kills from Kiviniemi and Kamryn Scheib, a service ace by Jamison Badje, and three Mystics miscues.

Following a brief exchange of points, Bellevue added separation with contributions from Fountain, Kiviniemi, and Payton Dzingle. Rowyn Scheer added a service ace to make it 18-11.

BSC trimmed the deficit to 19-13 after a McKenna Brendel kill, but Bellevue claimed six of the final eleven points. Cloud, Dzingle, and Badje all added kills down the stretch, and Fountain capped the match with her final termination to complete the sweep. 

Up Next:

The Bruins will travel to Dickinson, N.D., on Saturday, Sept. 6, for a 2 p.m. (CT) league match at Dickinson State University.