BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University volleyball team lost Friday to University of Mary, 3-2 (25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 25-13, 15-11). Bemidji State had a 2-1 lead going into the fourth set but the Marauders came to win the next two sets to take the match. BSU drops to 5-13 (1-9 NSIC) while U-Mary improves to 4-13 (1-9 NSIC).

In the first set the Beavers got the lead early on and did not relinquish it. BSU tied the game at six with a kill from Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.). Following an attacking error by U-Mary to make the score 7-6, the Beavers did not trail the rest of the set, winning the first stanza, 25-21. Bemidji State was led by Yost in the first set with four kills and a hitting percentage of .300.

BSU struggled to get going in the second frame. The Marauders came out swinging as it jumped out to a 10-4 lead on the Beavers. Bemidji State came back with a little run to cut U-Mary’s lead to five points but could not get closer than that as the Marauders won the second set, 25-16.

In the third set, the two teams battled each other in a back and forth affair. The tide turned it seemed when a Rachel Craig (MB, 6-2, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) kill put the Beavers out in front 13-11. The Beavers did not trail after that point in the set winning 25-20.

The fourth frame was not a good one for Bemidji State, as it hit for more attacking errors than it did kills (nine to eight). U-Mary took full advantage of those mistakes and won the fourth set, running away, 25-13.

The fifth and deciding set was much closer than the fourth set. Amanda Tronick (OH, 6-1, Fr., Hutchinson, Minn.) had a kill to tie the stanza at nine a piece, but U-Mary blocked two straight Bemidji State attacks and led 11-9 and that was as close BSU got, losing the fifth set, 15-11.  

One bright spot for the Beavers was its continuing improvement on the defensive side of the ball. BSU had more blocks than U-Mary (13-12). That is just the seventh time the Beavers have out-blocked their opponents this season.

Bemidji State returns to action tomorrow afternoon as it takes Minot State University (7-12 overall, 3-7 NSIC) at 4 p.m. from BSU Gymnasium

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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