The Missouri State volleyball team claimed its third State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship and first since 2005 with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-20 sweep of UNI Saturday at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan.

    After trailing 17-10 in the first set, the Bears dominated, outscoring UNI 65-44 the rest of the way in improving to 23-12 on the season. UNI is now 25-8.

    The first set comeback was followed by Missouri State out-hitting UINI .256-.093 in the second set to get 25 points away from the championship.

    MSU’s Bethany Fuller keyed a 4-0 run in the third set with two kills and a block to give the Bears a 6-3 lead. Twelve sideouts followed before either team scored twice in succession, and it was Missouri State taking the 13-9 advantage. After four more sideouts, Calli Norman had a block and a kill to put MSU ahead 17-11, but UNI responded with a 3-0 run.

    The Panthers closed the gap to two points, but a Cara Hackmann ace made the score 23-19 and Sara Staubach’s kill earned a match point at 24-20. It was Staubach again with the winner, hammering a ball off the UNI block for the title.

    Staubach led MSU with 13 kills on .345 hitting, Hackmann had 11 and hit .296 and Fuller hit .364 with 10 kills. The Bears outdistanced the league’s top blocking team by an 8-5 margin and hit .287 for the match to .200 for UNI.

    Terri Del Conte led MSU with 16 digs, Nikki Vandepopulier had 15 and Hackmann chipped in 11. Norman paced the Bears with four blocks.

    Hackmann (MVP), Julia Cawthra and Fuller were voted to the all-tournament team.

    The fourth-seeded Bears are the first team not seeded first or second to win the MVC Tournament in its 27 years.

    The Bears find out their NCAA Tournament opponent and destination Sunday at 9 p.m. when the selection show airs live on ESPNU.