After defeating Delaware State 3-0 in its first match Saturday, the Missouri State volleyball team entered a winner-take-all showdown with fellow 3-0 team Sacramento State for the T.J. Sales/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational championship Saturday evening inside Hammons Student Center in Springfield.
The Hornets of Sacramento State (3-1), who received votes in the AVCA preseason top 25, appeared poised to prevent MSU (4-0) from capturing its ninth consecutive title in the event, but the Bears battled from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 and claim the tournament.
Game scores in favor of the Bears over Sacramento State were 16-30, 27-30, 30-27, 30-23 and 15-11. MSU defeated Delaware State 30-14, 30-21, 30-22 in the afternoon match.
In the championship match against Sacramento State, the Bears’ offense struggled through the first two games, hitting just .000 on the way to a 2-0 deficit at intermission.
Refusing to lose on their home floor, MSU responded to attack at a .333 clip for the final three games, including a .486 mark with 20 kills and two errors in the fourth game.
Sparked by a crowd of 1,053, Missouri State carried the momentum into game five and never trailed in the deciding period. Tournament MVP Sara Thomas had five of her career-high 19 kills in the frame, while also adding 17 digs for the match.
Junior libero Nikki Vandepopulier set a career-high for the second consecutive day, digging 26 balls to lead the defensive effort. Senior Katelyn Panzau eclipsed her previous career best with 64 assists, whil Shayla Patrick added 10 kills and seven blocks. Both Panzau and Patrick joined Thomas on the all-tournament team.
Junior transfer Terri Del Conte also put together a solid defensive performance, recording 16 digs in the win.
The Bears achieved another milestone in the DSU match, hitting .434 (53-10-99) for the three games, the fourth-best offensive mark in school history. Thomas and Jamie Adams led the Bears with 14 kills apiece, and every player to register a kill hit at least .250.
MSU travels to East Lansing, Mich., next Friday and Saturday to face Michigan State, Florida State and Kansas in the Michigan State Classic.
Wynn Invitational all-tournament team:
Sara Thomas, MSU MVP
Katelyn Panzau, MSU
Shayla Patrick, MSU
Jennifer Ferguson, Sac. St.
Lindsey Haupt, Sac. St.
Julia Silva, Tulsa
Caitlin Koenig, UMKC
