ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Bemidji State University volleyball team fell to Emmanuel College (25-15, 26-28, 19-25, 17-25) and Eckerd College (13-25, 8-25, 21-25) on the final day of the Flagler College Invite Saturday afternoon in St. Augustine, Fla.
 
The Beavers have now complete non-conference play with a 1-7 record and will begin Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play next Friday at Northern State University.
 
Bemidji State was led by junior Hallie Mertz in game one against Emmanuel after she totaled 14 kills and hit .167 while sophomore Ashley Crowl followed with 12 kills and hit .270 in the match. The pair was followed by senior Rylee Pompa who totaled a career-high 10 kills and also hit .192. Defensively, junior Lauren Justesen recorded 25 digs, one shy of tying a career high while Crowl added 16 for the double-double
 
The Beavers struggle to get things going in game two against Eckerd and totaled just 18 kills to 46 for Eckerd. Pompa paced the Beavers with five kills while Crowl added three. Crowl also paced the Beavers with eigh digs on defense while freshman Hally Holker followed with six.
 
Bemijdi State returns home only to hit the road to open the conference season next weekend by traveling to Northern State and Minnesota State University, Moorhead Sept. 9-10.
 
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) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversVB)
 
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 hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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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