Aberdeen S.D. - At the Barnett Center tonight, Bemidji State (3-7, 0-1 NSIC) and Northern State (5-9, 1-0 NSIC) kicked-off the 2002 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule. NSU was the victor by a 3-0 count, 30-21, 30-22, 30-19.

Both teams had an equal amount of assists (41) and digs (44), however BSU had one total block compared to NSU’s 10. In addition, the Beavers did themselves in with a .054 hitting percentage on the night.

After putting up career numbers in her last match against Michigan Tech (9/14), sophomore middle blocker Heather Haugen (Lanesboro, Minn.) paced BSU with 11 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Piper (Eagan, Minn.) was next in kills with seven and she tied for the team lead with sophomore defensive specialist Kristine Engman (Virginia, Minn.) in digs with 10. Sophomore setter Kristin Smith (Rockford, Ill.) had 35 assists on the night as she now averages 11.25 on the season.

For the Wolves, Kim Heny and Christi Lucas put up 13 and 10 kills, respectively while Tara Sauter recorded a double-double in assists (32) and digs (10).

The Beavers will visit Morris, Minn. for a conference affair with the University of Minnesota-Morris tomorrow night. Match time is slated for 4:00 p.m.


Notes: With her 11 kills on the night, Heather Haugen now is second on the team in total kills (79) and kills per game (2.93)...The five kills by Kristin Smith tonight is a new career high as she broke her old mark of four kills vs. Montana St.-Billings (8/31/02)...The last time BSU opened up its conference schedule on the road and lost (9/19/00), it bounced back to defeat the next opponent...The win was a 3-1 affair and ironically, came against Minnesota-Morris on Sept. 22, 2000.