MARSHALL, Minn. (PE Gymnasium) -- The Bemidji State University volleyball team lost to Southwest Minnesota State University Friday night by a score of 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-14). SMSU improves to 16-5 overall and 11-2 in conference play and Bemidji State drops to 5-16 overall and 1-12 in conference action.

BSU was led by Chelsea Frison (MB, 6-1, So., Whitewater, Wis.), who had eight kills in 12 attack attempts to hit .417. Kelsi Crawford (OH, 5-9, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) had three kills in four attempts and Courtney Fox (DS, 5-8, So., Hutchinson, Minn.) led the team with nine digs, each coming off the bench for BSU. It was the second time this season that Fox led the team in that category with the first coming last Saturday against Minot State University. Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.) led the team with 12 kills. With Yost leading the team in kills, that marks the 18^th time in 21 matches that a freshman has led or was tied for the team lead in kills.  

The Beavers got off to a quick 7-1 lead on the Mustangs to open the first set. Rachel Craig (MB, 6-2, Jr., Wadena, Minn.) served five straight times to push BSU into the lead.

“In the first part of the first set we played tremendous,” said BSU head coach Wayne Chadwick, “Unfortunately SMSU went on a pretty good run after that.”

The Mustangs answered with an 11-1 run that swung the momentum back in their favor and went on to win the set, 25-21.

In the second frame, Beavers hung with SMSU. Yost had a kill to cut the Mustangs’ lead to one point at 13-12. Unfortunately for the Beavers, the Mustangs got in a groove and stretched lead to eight points, which was the final margin of victory, 25-17.

The third stanza was all Southwest Minnesota State, has it outhit the Beavers .394 to .148. After the score was tied at 1-1, the Mustangs took the lead on a service ace and did not trail the rest of the way, taking the third set, 25-14.

“We need to play a complete match from the first point to the last point,” said Chadwick on the key to his getting things turned around.

The Beavers will try and turn things around as they take on the University of Sioux Falls at 3 p.m. The Cougars will enter the match with a record of 13-8 overall and 5-7 in NSIC play.

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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