OMAHA, NEB. -- In day one at the North Central Region Challenge, Bemidji State (6-4, 0-0) hit a mere a .135 (34-17-126) in getting downed, 3-0 to host Nebraska-Omaha (7-5, 0-0)

“ We did not play well at all in the first game and a half,” said head coach Kim Falkenhagen. “We finally lit it up near the end of the second game and through the third one. If we would have played like we did near the end, we could have had a chance to win.”

Game one saw the visitors hit -.062 (7-9-32) and score only 15 points in the process. Meanwhile, Nebraska-Omaha hit .400 (13-4-35). The Beavers turned up the heat in the end, coming close at 28-30 in game two and 25-30 in game three. BSU improved its hitting percentage (.200/.204) the final two games but could not hit the 30-point mark. UN-O finished the contest hitting .294 (60-18-143).

Senior Kristin Peterson earned her 17th career double-double and team-high fourth of the season with 11 kills and 13 digs. The Hayfield, Minn., native was the lone bright hitter with a .417 (11-1-24) mark. She is making a move on the BSU career charts as she needs 14 total attempts to take over 10th and four service aces to be 14th.

“Peterson had an unbelievable match with her hitting percentage,” said Falkenhagen. “She did a great job for us as she added her double-double.”

Junior Heather Haugen recorded seven kills while junior Kristine Engman had a game-high 18 digs, her fourth straight match in leading the club. Junior Kristin Smith narrowly missed a double-double with 25 assists and nine digs.

Tournament play for the 2003 season wraps up tomorrow with two matches at the regional challenge. #23 South Dakota State will be the first opponent at 10:00 a.m. while South Dakota challenges BSU at 2:00 p.m.

NOTE: The Mavericks have won seven straight meetings in the all-time series with Bemidji State and lead 7-1...Kelly Piper played her first match after sitting out the last five with an injured knee...Kathryn McCannell is out indefinitely after suffering a dislocated kneecap in game three...Kristine Engman has averaged 17 digs in the last three matches...Kristin Peterson now has gone eight of the 10 matches this season with double-digits in kills...Lindsey Bromenshenkel had a career-high five kills and eight digs.