BEMIDJI, Minn. -- [box score] The Bemidji State University volleyball team dropped its 2006 home opener, 3-0 (30-24, 32-30, 30-13) to St. Cloud State University Tuesday at the BSU Gymnasium.

The Beavers looked to tie the match at 1-1, battling back from an early 7-10 deficit to take a 29-25 lead but failed to put the game away allowing five straight points by SCSU. The Huskies would go on to take the game, 32-30, after a brief hiccup, killing all momentum BSU had generated while taking the home crowd out of the match.

Game three was all SCSU. The Huskies led from wire to wire, breaking away from the Beavers on the power of a 17-5 scoring run to close out the match and complete the sweep.

Brittney Burns (Jr., OH, LeSueur, Minn.) paced a BSU club that totaled 40 kills. The junior posted 10 kills while equalling freshman Brie Groskreutz (Fr., OH, Reedsburg, Wis.) with 10 digs for her team-leading sixth double-double of the season.

Alicia Beaman (Jr., St. Paul Park, Minn.) recorded 30 assists on the night.

St. Cloud State was led by the pair of Lindsey Gothe and Kristi Pangrac who each tallied 13 kills. Rebecca Zenefski added 10 kills while hitting for an efficient .635 to lead all players. Emily Baldwin collected a match-high 17 digs while Zenefski an, Pangrac and Deanna Pieper each recorded five blocks.

Bemidji State falls to 6-6 on the year. The Beavers are now 27-11 all time in home openers. The Beavers will jump back into Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend with pail of matches. Friday, the team welcomes Wayne State College for a 7 p.m. match-up and will host Southwest Minnesota State Saturday at 3 p.m.

-bsu-