BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) – The Bemidji State University volleyball team wrapped up its nonconference season Monday evening against Northern Michigan University. Despite going toe to toe with the Wildcats, the Beavers dropped the match 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-21).

Bemidji State came out of the gates ready for the 7-1 Wildcats. Six different BSU players recorded kills in the set, while the Beavers out hit NMU .167 to .161 en route to a 25-22 victory to gain a 1-0 edge in the match.

NMU bounced back in the second set to earn a 25-19 victory on the strength of a balanced attack.

BSU out hit NMU in the third .135 to .105, which included a seven-kill set from Amanda Tronick, but the Wildcats’ capitalized late, netting five of the set’s final six points to claim a 25-21 victory and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

In the fourth, BSU took the lead 5-4 on a kill by Laurel Denney and held the Wildcats off until surrendering a 16-15 lead. NMU would never lead by more than four, but it came when it mattered, 25-21.

Tronick led the Beavers’ attack totaling a match-high 16 hills on 49 attempts, while committing nine errors for a .143 hitting percentage. Defensively, Kayla DeJong collected 18 digs, while Hailey Kauling posted five block assists.

The Beavers, now 2-6 overall, returns to action Thursday when they hit the road to open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season at St. Cloud State University. The team returns to the BSU Gymnasium Saturday for a 2 p.m. match up with University of Minnesota Duluth.

For more information on the Bemidji State volleyball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers and Volleyball Facebook) 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 wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU 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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