BISMARCK, N.D. -- Bismarck State volleyball kept its hot streak alive Saturday, sweeping MSU-Northern 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 26-24) at the Bavendick Center for the program's third straight win. After finishing last season without a straight-set win at home (or a Frontier Conference straight-set win), they now have two in as many days.
The Mystics improve to 5-7 overall and 3-4 in Frontier Conference play, moving into a tie with the Skylights in the conference standings. It's Bismarck State's first three-match win streak since joining the NAIA, and its first winning streak of any length since a six-match run in October and November of 2024.
Set One: Mystics Cruise Behind Hot Start
Bismarck State set the tone immediately, scoring 10 of the first 12 points -- highlighted by back-to-back service aces from
Piper Harris -- to take control early. The Mystics never let up from there, cruising to a lopsided 25-12 win to open the match.
Set Two: Mystics Escape With Extra Points
BSC and MSU-Northern traded the lead throughout a tightly contested second set, with the Mystics finally trailing 24-25 late. Bismarck State answered by winning three of the final four points -- capped by a kill from
Jordyn Rood and a Montana State-Northern attack error -- to escape with a 27-25 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three: Mystics Survive a Scare, Complete the Sweep
MSU-Northern delivered its best push of the match in set three, building as much as a seven-point lead at 8-15 to force a Bismarck State timeout. The Mystics clawed all the way back, eventually tying the set at 21-21, 23-23 and 24-24 before closing out the final two points -- including a kill from
Reese Duchsherer -- to complete the sweep, 26-24.
"Happy for sure, but beyond that, I think we're just more excited that our potential is coming out," head coach
Kyle Kuether said. "Our potential was there the last two weekends too, but to see it (in the) win is a little different -- maybe because we saw that our team could finish, not just play well. That's the good feeling."
Mystics Key Performers
- Reese Duchsherer led the way with a team-high 16 kills and a team-high 18.0 points, hitting .406 with two block assists
- Highest hitting percentage of the season for Reese
- Second-highest single match percentage of career (min. 30 attacks), surpassed only on 10/04/2024 vs Lincoln Land Community College
- Ellie Baumstarck was the Mystics' most efficient hitter, going 10-for-16 for a .625 clip and 13.0 points
- Most kills in a single match this season for Ellie
- Jordyn Rood added 7 kills for 9.5 points
- McKenna Brendel chipped in 7 kills for 8.0 points and 5 digs
- Aislyn Hogan ran the offense with 35 assists to go with 12 digs
- Piper Harris paced the defense with a team-high 26 digs and two service aces
- Most digs in a single match this season for Piper
Game Notes
- The win marks Bismarck State's first three-match win streak in program history at the NAIA level, and its first winning streak of any length since a six-match run in October-November of 2024
- Bismarck State moves into a tie with MSU-Northern, Montana Western and Dickinson State for sixth place in the Frontier Conference standings at 3-4
- The Mystics hit .254 as a team, well above Montana State-Northern's .203 mark
- Bismarck State is now 2-1 on its home floor at the Bavendick Center
- The Mystics move to 1-2 against the Skylights all-time. They were swept in both matchups in 2025.
Bismarck State continues its home stand at the Bavendick Center next weekend as the Mystics celebrate homecoming, hosting Carroll (Mont.) on Friday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. The Mystics will also play JV games against both teams at 4 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday.
See the volleyball schedule for more information on how to follow and attend the upcoming home matches.
Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.
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