The Missouri State volleyball team came out on the right side of a marathon match at Missouri Valley Conference rival Illinois State Friday evening, earning a 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 19-25, 18-16 five-set win over the Redbirds in Normal, Ill.

The final set was neck-and-neck, tied at each point from 8-8 to 13-13. Sara Staubach earned the Bears a match point opportunity at 14-13 with her 15th kill of the contest, but MSU failed to cash in, trading 2-0 runs with ISU and fighting off a Redbird match point as well on the way to a 16-16 tie.

Illinois State’s Kristin Stauter, who had aced the Bears four times already on the night, missed a serve to set up a third match point for the Bears, and Cara Hackmann notched the clinching kill for MSU as the Bears escaped Redbird Arena with an 18-16 fifth-set victory.

MSU improved to 17-8 overall and 8-4 in the MVC, while the Redbirds fell to 12-12 and 5-7 in the league.

The teams alternated wins in the first four sets, with the Bears using 14 blocks through three sets to grab a 2-1 lead, and the Redbirds going on runs of 6-0 and 9-0 in the fourth set to force the tie.

Missouri State made only one error in the first set to overcome a 19-14 deficit in kills and claim the win, and held ISU to .073 hitting in the third set for its second set victory.

Staubach and Hackmann had 16 kills each to lead Missouri State while Addie Foley added 13 and a career high 15 digs. Hackmann scooped 15 digs as well for her ninth double-double this season.

Terri Del Conte led the team with 28 digs, Ashley Kell set a career high with 19 along with 49 assists.

Missouri State finished with 15 blocks with a pair of freshmen leading the way. Kelley Michnowicz had seven and Calli Norman added six. Hackmann chipped in five and Staubach was in on four.

The Bears play at Indiana State (8-17, 2-10) at 6 p.m. Saturday.