Blocking and defense were the name of the game for the Missouri State volleyball team Saturday afternoon as the Bears defeated Northwestern State, 3-0 (30-20, 30-22, 30-11), in the first of two matches for the team at the T.J. Sales/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational inside Hammons Student Center.

Missouri State (4-1) pushed its win streak to 24 consecutive matches in the event by posting a season-high 18 team blocks and digging 58 balls in just three games. The Bear defense frustrated the Lady Demons (1-2) into hitting -.016 as a team for the match.

Freshman Shanda Harper continued the brilliant start to her college career with a team and career-high 14 kills on just 20 swings in the match. The Willard, Mo., native was also part of eight blocks.

Sarah Lansing and Katelyn Panzau topped the squad with nine block assists each, and Lansing added nine kills to narrowly miss her first double-double of the season. The block total was a career-high for Panzau.

The Bears trailed just two times in the match, 1-0 at the beginning of both games two and three, and hit .220 for the contest.

Adeana McAfee and Nikki Vandepopulier each recorded double figure dig totals, with 21 and 12 respectively.

Missouri State closes out the tournament tonight at 7 p.m. against Arkansas State.