ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- [box score] The Bemidji State University volleyball team dropped a non-conference tilt to St. Cloud State University, 3-0 (30-12, 31-29, 30-17), Tuesday evening at Hallenbeck Hall. The Huskies held at least a share of the lead from the opening serve to the final point and although BSU played a spirited game two pushing SCSU beyond 30 points, St. Cloud State held off the Beavers' rally and walked away with a victory and sweep of the season series.

Junior Chelsea Utzerath (Opp., Beaver Dam, Wis.) led the Beaver attack with nine kills while newcomer Anna Leafblad (Fr., MB, Coon Rapids, Minn.) was the most efficient hitter for the Beavers posting a career-best .308 (6-2-13) hitting percentage.

Alicia Beaman (Jr., St. Paul Park, Minn.) transitioned form her usual setter position to the attack claiming six kills and leading the team with 11 digs.

The Huskies' Deanna Pieper and Kristi Pangrac paced each nabbed 14 kills and hit for better than .379 with Pangrac cruising along at a .545 (14-2-22) clip.

Andreana Pieper led all players with 12 digs while Rebecca Zenefski posted a match-high five blocks.

As the match got underway, SCSU drew first blood on a kill by Pangrac.

BSU would come back to tie the score (1-1) on one of Marissa Hinshaw's (Fr., MB, Anchorage, Alaska) two kills. After a quick point by SCSU, BSU would again knot the score (2-2) on a Utzerath kill.

The Huskies would then go on a run to put the game out of reach for BSU.

Using an Ann Deutsh kill to to go up 4-3, SCSU would net 19 of the next 22 points and would finish the game with a 30-12 victory.

Game two started as more of the same as the Beavers.

SCSU scored the first point. After a quick kill by Utzerath, the Huskies would take eight straight points to put the Beavers in a 9-1 hole. The early deficit would force BSU head coach Kim Falkenhagen to take a timeout to make some adjustments.

The Beavers came out of the break to slowly chip away at the SCSU advantage. Midway through the game, BSU used a 8-4 strand to come to within five points (16-11). The Beaver rally would continue as the game progressed. Beaman would collect a kill and BSU would use a SCSU miscue to even the score to 29-29.

SCSU bounced back to put the game away scoring the last two points of the game and take a 2-0 in the match, 31-29.

The Huskies took command of game three early jumping out to a 7-4 lead. The Beavers came back to tie the game at 8-8, but when SCSU netted the next three points, the tie would be as close as the Beavers would come.

Later St. Cloud State used a 10-3 run to go up 24-13. The Huskies would not look back taking game three, 30-17 to comeplete the sweep, 3-0.

Bemidji State (7-18; 3-9 NSIC) turns its focus back to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend as it hits the road for a pair league tilts. Friday the Beavers will visit No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State University at 7 p.m. and will turn around to travel to No. 23 Wayne State College Saturday at 3 p.m.

-bsu-