SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Stewart Center) -- The Bemidji State University volleyball team lost to University of Sioux Falls Saturday afternoon by a score of 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-10). USF improves to 14-9 overall and 6-8 in conference play and Bemidji State drops to 5-17 overall and 1-13 in conference action.

The Cougars jumped on the Beavers early. USF got the lead 2-1 in the first set and did not give it back. The Beavers cut the deficit to 13-11 on the power of three consecutive kills by Amanda Tronick (OH, 6-1, Fr., Hutchinson, Minn.), Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Fr., Bemidji, Minn.) and Rachel Craig (MB, 6-2, Jr., Wadena, Minn.), but that was as close as BSU would get as the Cougars took the first set 25-17.  

In the second frame, the Cougars again jumped on the Beavers early. USF got off to an 8-1 lead, which forced Bemidji State to spend a timeout. BSU was able to get the score to 9-5 in favor of the Cougars but that was as close as it would get as USF won the second set 25-13.

The third set was more of the same for the Beavers as it got down early and could not muster a comeback. The Cougars served 13 of the first 15 points as it led BSU 13-2. After a timeout by Bemidji State, the Beavers played better as the score the rest of the set was 12-8, but that early hole was too much and USF won the third set, 25-10.

The Beavers did not have many things go for them in the match but one bright spot was the play of Tronick. She tied for the team lead in kills with seven and hit .462.

USF out hit BSU .465 to .053. That differential was due, in large part, to the Cougars’ blocking. USF had a total of eight team blocks while the Beavers had just two.

Bemidji State will try and right the ship next Friday and Saturday as it hosts a pair of teams that either received votes or were ranked in last week’s American Volleyball Coaches’ Association (AVCA) top 25 poll. The Beavers will face Augustana College (17-5 overall and 9-5 in NSIC play) Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Wayne State College (17-7 overall and 8-6 in NSIC play) Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.

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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