BEMIDJI, Minn. – In Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opening play, the Bemidji State University volleyball team took its first set against Minnesota State University, Mankato in four seasons but fell in the three remaining sets for its first loss of the conference season. The Beavers (3-6, 0-1 NSIC) took set one by a score of 25-12 over the Mavericks (8-1, 1-0 NSIC) but fell 23-25, 18-25 and 23-25 in the next three sets.

Junior Becky Schroeder led the Beavers by totaling 19 kills and hit at a career high .406 hitting percentage to lead the Beavers in the loss while sophomore Haley Stolt followed with 12 kills and totaled 10 digs on defense for the double-double.

Bemidji State had one of its best sets under the Kevin Ulmer era in set one against the Mavericks and hit a season-high .714 percent as a team with 14 kills in 18 attacks and no errors. However, Bemidji State failed to get those important points late in sets that ultimately doomed their attempt at a 1-0 start to the conference season.

Beavers out-hit the Mavericks in kills (52-51) and hitting efficiency (.296-.291) as well as digs (46-40) but lost in service aces (7-10), blocks (4-5) receiving errors (10-7).

Redshirt freshman Maddie Mackinac recorded a match-high 42 assists and powered the Beavers to a .296 hitting efficiency including aiding senior Julie Touchett to 10 kills and .360 hitting percentage.

Senior Emma Hallmann led the Beavers' defense with 11 digs while Stolt followed with 10 and senior Kelli Auer added nine. Touchett led the team with three blocks (2s-1a) while junior Randi Johnson and Stolt each added one.

The Beavers will try to improve against one of the best teams in the NSIC and nation tomorrow afternoon when they host No. 6 Concordia University-St. Paul at 1 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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