ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Bemidji State volleyball team (3-2, 0-0 NSIC) picked up its third consecutive victory Friday night with a 3-0 triumph over Upper Iowa in the first day of the North Central Regional Crossover Challenge. The Beavers beat the Peacocks 30-24, 30-23 and 30-26.

Game one saw BSU hit .378 (22-5-45), a match high, compared to .194 (10-4-31) clip by UIU. The Beavers hitting percentage (.279/.167) dropped considerable in games two and three, but Upper Iowa’s hitting percentage fell off at an even greater rate, as the Peacocks hit .143 and .079 in the match’s final two games. Bemidji State’s overall hitting percentage was .272 (58-21-136), while Upper Iowa finished with a .135 (33-19-104) mark.

Kelly Piper turned in the best individual performance for the Beavers, as the senior recorded her first double-double of the 2004 season, tallying 13 kills and a team-high 13 digs. In addition, freshman Brittney Burns nearly earned her first career double-double, by securing 11 kills and nine digs.

Senior Heather Haugen also led the team in two categories, as she compiled a .424 (18-4-33) hitting percentage and a team-best 18 kills.

The Beavers continue tournament play Saturday with a pair of matches against North Central Conference foes Augustana and Nebraska-Omaha. BSU faces off with the Vikings at 10 a.m. and concludes the weekend against the Mavericks at 2 p.m.