BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bemidji State University volleyball team lost to University of Minnesota Crookston Tuesday evening at the BSU Gymnasium by a score of 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 19-25, 24-26). The Beavers drop to 5-15 overall and 1-11 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate action while the Golden Eagles improve to 11-9 overall and 6-6 in NSIC play.

Bemidji State came out playing well in the first frame as it outhit Minnesota Crookston .367 to .188. BSU got off to a quick 4-1 lead that forced UMC to take an early timeout. After the timeout, the Golden Eagles scored nine of the next twelve points to take a 10-7 lead. The Beavers seized the momentum back trailing 12-10, as sophomore Kayla DeJong (DS, 5-8, Jefferson, Wis.) served six straight times and when UMC got the ball back it was trailing 14-13. BSU never trailed after that, winning the first set, 25-20.

In the second set, the roles were reversed. The Golden Eagles hit an even .300 on 30 opportunities as Beavers hit .133 in the same number of opportunities. Early in the second frame, the teams traded points but UMC got on a roll after the score was tied at 14. UMC served 10 of the next 11 points and opened up a 23-16 lead in that timeframe. The Beavers could not mount a comeback, dropping the second stanza, 25-18.

Minnesota Crookston did not hit as well as it did in the second set but it was good enough to win the third frame, 25-19. Both teams turned up the defensive intensity in the third totaling 22 digs apiece in the frame. BSU also registered four blocks in the third stanza.

The fourth, and what proved to be the final set, could have gone either way. After a defensive-minded third frame, both teams hit over .300. Both teams had issues serving as both teams had four service errors each after having total of 15 in the first three sets combined. BSU had an opportunity to force a fifth set, serving with a 24-23 advantage. But UMC got two critical kills from Brittany Looker and a key service ace from Stephanie Pearson to take the fourth set and the match 26-24.

Freshmen Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Bemidji, Minn.) and Amanda Tronick (OH, 6-1, Hutchinson, Minn.) led BSU’s offense. Yost led the team with 17 kills and Tronick chipped in 11 kills and hit a season-best .400 on 25 opportunites. Defensively, DeJong had 24 digs, marking the ninth time she has posted at least 20 digs.

Looking ahead, Bemidji State hits the road this weekend for a pair of conference matches. BSU battles Southwest Minnesota State University Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday it travels to Sioux Falls, S.D, where it will play the University of Sioux Falls.

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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