BILLINGS, Mont. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team fell in both matches on the opening day of the Yellowjacket Invitational hosted by Montana State University-Billings, Friday night. The Beavers (0-2) opened the tournament with a three-set loss to South Dakota School of Mines (25-16, 25-19, 25-16) followed by another three-set loss to MSU-Billings (25-22, 25-17, 25-18) later in the evening. 

Bemidji State struggled in its first match in 657 days and fell in consecutive sets to South Dakota Mines, 16-25, 19-25 and 16-25. The Beavers hit just .021 (24K-22E-96A) as a team during the match with only four Beavers hitting above .000 in the match. Senior Anna Averkamp led the Beavers with six kills in 26 attacks (.000) while sophomore Rilee Michaelson followed with five kills in 19 attacks (.211). Junior Meeghen Dahlager led the team with a .400 hitting percentage after recording two kills in five attacks.

Freshman Emily Wade led the Beavers' attack and totaled 17 assists in her first collegiate match and also recorded six digs defensively. Sophomore Madison Weyker led BSU's defense with 13 digs while junior Annie Hopp added eight. Bemidji State totaled four blocks in the match with Michaelson leading the Beavers with two while sophomore Rylie Bjerklie and freshman Lauren Sitter each added one.

The Hardrockers out-hit the Beavers 39 kills to 24 while also hitting at a .312 clip and committed just 10 attacking errors compared to 22 by the Beavers. SD Mines' Emma Grimm led the Hardrockers with eight kills while Dejah Behrend and Jacey Koethe each added seven. SD Mines also recorded 11 team blocks and were paced by Koethe who totaled four.

Bemidji State's offense was more efficient in the second game of the day by totaling 32 kills in 91 attacks for a .121 hitting efficiency but 21 attacking errors hindered the Beavers and they fell in three consecutive sets by scores of 22-25, 17-25, 18-25 against MSU-Billings. Michaelson led the Beavers by recording a career-high nine kills while also hitting at a .278 clip. She was followed by Dahlager and Averkamp who each added six while Bjerklie added five kills and paced the team by hitting a .500 efficiency.

Wade and sophomore Taylor Birr split time setting the ball for the Beavers' attack and each totaled 14 assists. Weyker paced the Beavers defense for the second consecutive match and totaled 11 digs while Dahlager added nine and Averkamp added six. The Beavers totaled 12 blocks as a team and were paced by Bjerklie with four while Michaelson and junior Rylee Pompa each added three.

The Yellowjackets out-hit the Beavers 39 kills to 32 and hit a .232 clip as a team and were paced by Bayli Monck and Skylar Reed who each totaled 11 kills.

Bemidji State will look to rebound on the final day of the tournament tomorrow and will face Black Hills State University and Saint Martin's at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. CDT, respectively.

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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