CROOKSTON, Minn. (Lysaker Gymnasium) [box] - The Bemidji State volleyball team earned a season series sweep over the University of Minnesota, Crookston with a 3-0 sweep of the Golden Eagles at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Beavers earned the victory by scores of 30-26, 30-17, 30-28.

The Beavers hit at a higher rate for than its opponents for the tenth time this season improving their mark to 8-2 when hitting a high percentage than their opponents. The Beavers hit at a rate of .263 in the match (46k-15e-118at) while the Golden Eagles hit just .136 (46k-28e-132at).

Brie Groskreutz (So., OH, Reedsburg, Wis.) and Nicole Olson (Fr., MB, Baudette, Minn.) led the Beavers attack as Groskreutz notched 15 kills while Olson had 14 in the match. It was the second consecutive match that Groskreutz has led the Beavers in kills. Brittney Burns adds to her kills total as she now has amassed 1,269 kills in her career, moving her into the second spot on BSU’s all-time kill list passing Sherry Hill (1980-82) who has 1,264 in her career.

Defensively, the Beavers were led by Laura Vonasek (So., LB, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Groskreutz. Vonasek led the Beavers with 16 digs while Groskreutz chipped in with 12 digs in the match. With the 12 dig performance Groskreutz has notched 447 digs this season which places her in the sixth position, ahead of Mary Gergan (433) for digs in a season.

Alicia Beaman (Sr., S, St. Paul Park, Minn.) led the Beavers offense with 33 assists in the match. With the 33 assists she is approaching the 2,500 assists mark in her career. She currently sits with 2,486 assists in her career. Kunde chipped in with five assists. Anna Leafblad (So., MB, Blaine, Minn.) led the Beavers at the net for the eighth time this season as she notched six blocks, all of which were assisted.

Groskreutz netted her team leading tenth double-double performance of the season.

Minnesota, Crookston had two players garner double-digit kill totals. Theresa Crance and Katie Bonine each had twelve kills for the Golden Eagles. Defensively, Jaclyn Slepicka led UMC with 10 digs while Crance had three of the four blocks. Cassie Yates paced the Beavers offense as she had 44 set assists in the match.

With the win the Beavers snap a season long four match losing skid and improve their all-time record versus Minnesota, Crookston to 16-8. Also, with the win the Beavers sweep the season series with UMC for the first time since the 2002 season. The Beavers picked up its tenth win of the season this afternoon. The last time the Beavers garnered at least ten wins in a season was in 2004 when they were 10-21 overall. The Beavers also picked up their sixth NSIC win. The six wins is the most wins in the NSIC for the Beavers since the 2003 season when they were 7-9.

Bemidji State (10-16; 6-12 NSIC) will next be in action on Tuesday, Nov. 6, when the Beavers will travel to St. Paul, MInn. to take on the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament at 7:00 p.m. from the Gangelhoff Center

--beavers--