The Missouri State volleyball team came out sharp and hit nearly .400 through the first two sets on the way to a 25-12, 25-16, 25-23 Missouri Valley Conference sweep of the visiting Drake Bulldogs Friday evening at Hammons Student Center.

    The Bears improved to 16-7 overall and 7-3 in the MVC with their fourth straight win, while Drake fell to 9-14 and 2-8.

    Missouri State hit .423 in the first set, including a 10-0 run to push its lead to 23-10, and then totaled a .375 attack percentage in the second set and led the Bulldogs by as many as 12 points with the help of four kills and no errors from Addie Foley.

    The third set was much tighter after MSU bolted to a 6-1 lead. Drake fought back to tie it at 13-all and led 14-13. The Bears won the next three points and never trailed again, closing it out with two points after a 23-23 tie. Four Bears had at least three kills in the final set.

    Reigning MVC Freshman of the Week Kelley Michnowicz led all players with 12 kills, doing so on just 18 attempts and hitting .611. Foley added 10 kills on .333 hitting as MSU hit .301 as a team.

    Terri Del Conte scooped 12 digs to reach double figures for the 13th consecutive match and added three aces, while Cara Hackmann pitched in 12 digs as well. Nikki Vandepopulier’s six digs moved her up to 15th on Missouri State’s career list.

    The Bears take on Creighton (10-8, 7-3) at 6 p.m. Saturday.