BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team dropped its 2013 home opener to the University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday afternoon ,3-0.  The Beavers fall to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, while the Bulldogs improve to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in league action.

Notables

- Rachel Craig (MB, 6-1, Wadena, Minn.) netted a game-high six blocks

- Freshman Jessica Yost (OH, 6-3, Bemidji, Minn.) totaled a team-high 10 kills.

- Kate Lange posted a match-high 21 kills and hit .474 to lead UMD.  

Turning Points vs. UMD

Set 1: The Bulldogs got off to a quick start against the Beavers. Before BSU got on the board with a kill by Amanda Tronick (OH, 6-1, Hutchinson, Minn.) UMD opened a 6-0 lead. UMD outhit the Beavers .344 to -.034 in the first set. In addition, Minnesota Duluth finished the set with an 8-0 run to claim the 25-11 win.

Set 2: Minnesota Duluth continued its solid play in the second set, but Bemidji State got back on track with its play. BSU had ten kills in the set but only hit .189 due to the UMD’s stingy defense. After a Craig block, the Beavers closed the gap to 8-6. Unfortunately, Bemidji State could not get any closer and Minnesota Duluth took the second set 25-16.

Set 3: The Bulldogs again got off to a quick 6-0 start in the third, and never looked back,winning the set 25-14.

Bemidji State returns to action Tuesday when it travels west on Highway 2 to battle the University of Minnesota Crookston. The NSIC match is set for a 7 p.m. start at Lysaker 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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