Missouri State became the second volleyball program in NCAA history to reach the 1,000-win mark with a convincing 30-15, 30-11, 30-17 sweep of visiting MVC foe Indiana State Friday in front of 1,879 fans at Hammons Student Center in Springfield.
The Bears improved to 24-6 overall and 14-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the victory, while the Sycamores fell to 5-24 and 1-6 in league play.
Indiana State kept the first game close early, trailing just 10-9 before the Bears closed it out on a 20-6 run for the 30-15 win. MSU went on runs of 5-0 with Sarah Lansing serving and 8-0 with Sara Thomas at the service line, and the Bears hit .220 to .027 for ISU. Junior setter Katelyn Panzau nearly had a double-double in the game, finishing with nine assists and eight digs, as well as adding four kills on five swings. Panzau finished the match with eight kills and no errors to hit .667.
Game two was all Missouri State from the beginning, as the Sycamores failed to reach double figures in scoring until MSU had a 26-10 lead. The Bears hit .412 and held ISU to just four kills for the period. The offense was balanced as five players finished with three kills.
MSU closed out the milestone victory with a 30-17 game three win. Thomas and Shanda Harper each had four kills and no errors in the final frame, and back-to-back kills by senior Erin O’Connor and Harper sealed the win for Missouri State.
Jamie Adams led all players with 11 kills, and the MSU offense had a .314 hitting efficiency to just .020 for Indiana State. Missouri State has now held its last six opponents to a .083 or worse hitting percentage.
The Bears close out the regular season and celebrate Senior Day tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Illinois State at Hammons.
The State Farm MVC Tournament begins Nov. 24 in Normal, Ill., and the Bears still have an outside shot at the No. 2 seed after Illinois State (16-12, 10-7) upset Wichita State Friday. The Shockers need to lose to Indiana State Saturday night in Wichita for MSU to earn the second seed and a bye into the semifinals. Otherwise, Missouri State will be the third seed and open tournament play at 12:30 p.m. on the 24th against either Southern Illinois or Evansville.
