BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) [box] - The Bemidji State volleyball team dropped a tough four game match to the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux in its final home match of the 2007 season tonight at the BSU Gymnasium. The Fighting Sioux earned the victory by scores of 30-24, 19-30, 30-27, 32-30.

In a very close match the Fighting Sioux prevailed over the Bemidji State Beavers. The Fighting Sioux out hit the Beavers by the narrowest of margins has North Dakota hit .127 (59k-37e-173at) while the Beavers hit just a fraction below as they hit .126 (57k-35e-175at) in the match.

Brie Groskreutz (So., OH, Reedsburg, Wis.) and Brittney Burns (Sr., OH, LeSueur, Minn.) led the Beavers attack as they each recorded 16 kills. The 16 kills was a season-high for Groskreutz and it also ties a career-high as she netted 16 kills versus Wayne State (Neb.) on September 15, 2006. Brittney Burns adds to her kills total as she now has amassed 1,257 kills in her career, just eight kills shy of passing Sherry Hill for the second spot on BSU’s all-time kill list. Nicole Olson (Fr., MB, Baudette, Minn.) was also in double-digit kills with 15 in the match.

Defensively, the Beavers were led by Groskreutz and Burns. Groskretuz led the Beavers with 16 digs while Beaman chipped in with 15 digs in the match. With the 16 dig performance Groskreutz has notched 435 digs this season which places her in the seventh position, ahead of Peggy Hammel-Moran (433) for digs in a season. Allison Kunde (So., S, Burnsville, Minn.) notched 10 digs in the match from her setter position.

Alicia Beaman (Sr., S, St. Paul Park, Minn.) led the Beavers offense with 40 assists in the match. With the 40 assists she is approaching the 2,500 assists mark in her career. She currently sits with 2,453 assists in her career. Kunde chipped in with eight assists. Olson led the Beavers at the net for the twelfth time this season as she notched seven blocks including four solo blocks on the night.

Groskreutz and Burns each netted double-double performances as Groskreutz recorded her team leading ninth double-double of the season while Burns notched her seven double-double of the season and the 32 of her career.

North Dakota had three girls who garnered double-digit kills. Tara Holmen led the Fighting Sioux with 14 kills while Amanda Polzin and Britta Hanson each chipped in with 11 kills apiece. Courtney Halvorson led the defensive charge for UND as she recorded 18 digs. Tara Holmen had seven blocks to control the net for North Dakota. Megan Langseth paced the offensive attack for the Fighting Sioux as she had 43 assists in the match.

In such a close game there were only 17 tie scores and 10 lead changes. The majority of the tie scores and lead changes came in games one and four. In game one there were six tie scores and three lead changes while in game four there were eight tie scores and five lead changes.

In the lone game that the Beavers won the Beavers held the lead for the majority of the game as there was only one lead change and one tie score in the 30-19 game two win for the Beavers. After being down two games to one the Beavers battled in game four but fell short in game four by a score of 32-30.

With the loss the Beavers are now on a four-match losing skid to the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and fall to 27-32 all-time versus UND. With the loss the Beavers losing streak also extends to a season long four matches.

Bemidji State (9-16; 5-12 NSIC) will play its final match of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 3, when the Beavers travel to Crookston, Minn., to take on the University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles from Lysaker Gymnasium at 3:00 p.m.

--beavers--