WAYNE, NEB. -- The Bemidji State volleyball squad ended the 2003 campaign in winning fashion, taking a 3-0 affair at Wayne State (Neb.) tonight. The win marked the first ever in Wayne, Neb. - BSU was winless the previous four times. The Beavers finished with a 15-17 overall mark, the best since the 1999 season. Scores were 30-28, 30-28, 30-27.

BSU mixed around the lineup a bit, starting a few underclassmen; freshman Kathryn McCannell, Katie McKenzie and Lindsey Bromenshenkel along with junior Heather Haugen and seniors Kristin Peterson and Nicole McDougall.

“We tried something different in the lineup to see what would happen,” said head coach Kim Falkenhagen. “The girls went out there and were fired up to play. It was a real fun, exciting game to watch.

“Everybody got into the match and to end on a high note with the win is pretty special. This (win) put an end to quite a successful season.”

Peterson came away with her 30th career double-double as she had 11 kills and 14 digs. She ended the season with 17 double-doubles, the most since Jill Anundson had 18 in 2000. Haugen chipped in nine kills, six digs and six blocks. McCannell recorded 31 assists and six digs while junior Kristin Engman tied Peterson in digs with 14. Also, Bromenshenkel had a career day with seven kills and 10 digs.

This was the final match for three BSU seniors: McDougall, Lisa Smith and Peterson. McDougall ended her career with 280 total blocks, good for ninth on the school chart. Smith posted 822 career kills, which is tied for 10th and 2,370 career total attempts (eighth). Peterson put her name in the BSU career record books in four categories: 2,824 total attempts (sixth), 917 kills (seventh), 923 digs (ninth) and 136 service aces (tied-10th).

Bemidji State ends the campaign with a 7-9 league mark, good for fifth-place; the Beavers recorded a 8-10 NSIC record in 2002, placing sixth.


NOTE: Wayne State leads the all-time series, 9-2, as BSU snaps an eight-match overall skid to the Wildcats...The 1999 BSU team recorded 25 wins...The BSU victory to end the season is the first since the 1998 squad accomplished the feat...The 15 wins by Beaver coach Kim Falkenhagen is the second-most by a rookie skipper; Jan Gudhnect posted 32 in 1977...Bemidji State picked up its first win in the month of November, it was 0-3 before the match...Kristine Engman added to her season total as she closed it out with 370, the most since Peggy Hammel-Moran had 433 in 1999; also, Engman now has back-to-back 300+ dig seasons, the first player to do so since Beth Fischer-Virnig (1999-2000).

***Please note the stats provided are unofficial.