The Missouri State volleyball team opened the 2007 season on a high note with 3-0 victories over both Missouri-Kansas City and Tulsa Friday at the T.J. Sales/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational inside Hammons Student Center.

MSU (2-0) extended its Wynn Invitational win streak to 27 matches, defeating UMKC by scores of 30-20, 30-24 and 31-29 before topping Tulsa 30-20, 30-23 and 30-20 in the nightcap.

Taking a 2-0 game lead against the Kangaroos in the opening match, Missouri State had to fight off a scrappy a UMKC team to close out the season opener with a 31-29 game three victory. The Bears trailed as late as 27-26, but got two kills from Jamie Adams to set up a UMKC error on match point for the win.

Adams finished the match with 12 kills, and sophomore Sara Staubach led all players with a career-high 13. Senior Sara Thomas had 15 digs and led the Bears on a 12-0 run while at the service line midway through game one to help secure the early lead.

Missouri State trailed for just six points for the entire evening match against Tulsa, leading throughout both the first and third games. Thomas had a match-high 13 kills and added 16 digs for the double-double.

Junior Nikki Vandepopulier set a career high with 18 digs for the Bears, and freshman Shayla Patrick added 11 kills on just 20 swings to hit .400 for the match. Senior Katelyn Panzau rolled up 48 assists in just three games.

The Bear defense blocked 12 TU attacks and held the Golden Hurricane to .044 hitting.

The Bears close out the tournament with two more matches Saturday, facing Delaware State (0-2) at noon and Sacramento State (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be televised locally on Mediacom Channel 14. Sacramento State head coach Debby Colberg picked up her 800th career victory by defeating DSU in the tournament’s opening match Friday morning.