Crookston, Minn. (Lysaker Gymnasium) - The Bemidji State University volleyball team dropped a tough four set match to the University of Minnesota, Crookston this afternoon at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles earned the victory by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23.

In a tight knit match the Golden Eagles prevailed over the Bemidji State Beavers for the first time since October 24, 2006. The Golden Eagles out hit the Beavers by the slimmest of margins as Minnesota, Crookston hit .176 (52k-27e-142at) while the Beavers hit a few notches below hitting .106 (43k-28e-142at.)

Nicole Olson (So., OH, Baudette, Minn.) and Courtney Bitter (Fr., S, Bemidji, Minn.) led the Beavers attack as Olson notched 11 kills and Bitter tied a career-high with nine kills. Olson’s double-digit kill total was second best of the match only to Minnesota, Crookston’s Amber Meyer who totaled 18 kills.

Defensively, the Beavers were led by Jessi-Beth McCannell (Fr., LB, Brandon, Manitoba) who tallied a match-high with 19 digs while Olson chipped in with a career-high 14 digs in the match. Bitter also chipped in nine digs in the match from her setter position.

Bitter led the Beavers offense with 29 assists. It is the thirteenth time this season that she has posted at least twenty set assists. Olson netted the second double-double of her career with her 11 kills and 14 digs for the Beavers.

Minnesota, Crookston was led by Meyer with her 18 kills and .406 hitting percentage (18k-5e-32at) with Ashley Allen chipping in nine kills. Jaclyn Slepicka led the defensive charge for UMC as she recorded 17 digs, Heather Foreman also had double-digit digs with 10. Andrea Hubbell and Allison Zajicek each had four blocks in the match for UMC. The Golden Eagle offense was paced by the duo of Kate Holmquist and Cassie Yates with 22 and 21 set assists, respectively.

In such a close match there were 21 tie scores and 16 lead changes. The majority of the tie scores and lead changes came in sets one and three. In set one there were six tie scores and four lead changes while in game three there were seven tie scores and six lead changes.

In the lone set that the Beavers won it was a back and fourth contest as there were seven tie scores and six lead changes. The Beavers were down by as many as three at 19-16 and were able to battle back to take the set 25-23 for its lone win of the match. After being down two sets to one the Beavers battled in set four but fell short by a score of 25-23.

With the loss the Beavers are now on its longest losing streak of the season of five matches. BSU falls to 16-9 all-time versus the University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles and 9-6 all-time at the Lysaker Gymnasium.

Bemidji State (4-10; 0-2 NSIC) will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 23, when the Beavers host the Northern State University Wolves at the BSU Gymnasium for the 2008 home opener at 7 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--beavers--