Box Score BEMIDJI, Minn.- The Bemidji State University volleyball team put up a valiant effort against the No. 20 Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks but couldn’t close after putting up a fight in all three games against their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) foes. The Beavers fall to 6-21 (3-16 NSIC) with the loss. Minnesota State improves their mark to 19-8 (12-7 NSIC).

The Beavers had an early lead in the first game of Friday night’s match as they were up 7-1 on the visiting Mavericks. However Minnesota State would close the score to 12-12 and wouldn’t look back as they took 13 of the next 19 points from Bemidji State.

Friday night served as senior night for the Beavers as they honored a pair of four-year players in Kimberly Hacker (MB/RS, Hutchinson, Minn.) and Jessi-Beth McCannell (S, Brandon, Manitoba). Hacker and McCannell were both recognized in a pre-game ceremony. McCannell will ultimately end her career in the top 10 for career assists at BSU while Hacker has tallied over 400 kills and 100 blocks in her career as a Beaver. Hacker and McCannell will each play their final match in the green and white tomorrow against No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University.

Bethany Thompson (Jr., OH, Owatonna, Minn.) did everything she could to try to send Hacker and McCannell off with a victory on senior night. Thompson tallied her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs and hit .182 for the match. The Beavers would finish the night hitting .171 as a team. BSU had a strong second game, hitting .290 from the field with 15 kills and six errors on 31 attempts. Freshmen Rachel Craig (MB, Wadena, Minn.) and Kelsi Crawford (OH/DS, Wadena, Minn.) also played strong matches as they each tallied seven kills on the night. McCannell finished with 29 assists for the Beavers.

Defensively, Thompson and Elissa Christensen (Fr., Lib., Montevideo, Minn.) paced the Beavers with 11 digs apiece while Craig added one solo block and three block assists.

Minnesota State finished the match hitting .309 as they notched 47 kills and 13 errors on 110 attempts. Alli Rice and All-NSIC First Team selection Chelsea Fogarty each tallied double-figure kills on the night. Rice led the way with 15 kills and hit .289 while Fogarty chipped in 13 kills and hit .600. Fogarty’s teammate and fellow All-NSIC First Team selection Brittany Stamer had 38 assists on the night.

Defensively, Fogarty paced the Mavericks with 13 digs.

Bemidji State will look to end the season on a high note as they host No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University at BSU Gymnasium on Saturday at 3 p.m.