MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team dropped both of its matches at the first day of the Wildcat Open on the campus of Northern Michigan University, Friday afternoon. The Beavers (3-3, 0-0 NSIC) fell to Michigan Technological University 3-0 (17-25, 17-25, 18-25) and Northwood University 3-1 (23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 23-25). 

“Hats off to our opponents. They really challenged us today in a lot of different ways,” said head coach Kevin Ulmer. “We had some good performances from individuals but just never collectively did what we needed to do to get the job done.”

Michigan Tech 3, Bemidji State 0
After sweeping their last two matches, the Beavers were on the wrong end of a 3-0 match after being swept by the Huskies in match one of the day. Michigan Tech rolled through the match by downing BSU 25-17, 25-17 and 25-18 to improve to 4-1 on the season.

The Beavers had no answer for the Huskies’ high-powered offense and failed to slow down their .393 hitting percentage and were out-killed 43-34 in the match.

Sophomores Anna Averkamp and Becka Cronin led BSU with nine kills each while Cronin led the team by hitting .417 in 17 attacks. Freshman Maddie Mackinac earned 24 assists in the match and tied for the team lead with Mary Campbell with five digs.

Bemidji State 1, Northwood 3
Despite hitting .230 as a team and holding the Timberwolves to a .196 hitting percentage, the Beavers fell in their final match of the day to Northwood, 3-1, by scores of 23-25, 23-25, 25-16, 23-25. The Beavers totaled 45 kills in the match including at least five from five different players but failed to win the close sets after falling in three sets by two points.

Freshman Greta Paszek paved the way for the Beavers’ attack by leading the team with nine kills on .400 hitting efficiency. Junior Julie Touchett added seven kills and two service aces while Anna Averkamp totaled six kills and Maddie Filipiak and Mary Campbell each had five.

Freshman Maddie Mackinac coordinated the Beavers’ offense and dished out 31 assists while also earning seven digs. Junior Emma Hallmann dug out a season-high 18 balls to lead the match while sophomore Becky Schroeder eclipsed her season-high with 15.

The Beavers continue play at the Wildcat Open by facing host school Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State University at noon and 4 p.m.

For more information on the Bemidji State volleyball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversVB), 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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