Sophomore right side hitter Kelley Michnowicz set a career high with 16 kills and hit .536 to lead the Missouri State volleyball team to a 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 sweep of Missouri Valley Conference rival Creighton Saturday at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, Neb.

    The Bears improved to 12-4 overall and 5-0 in the league, while Creighton fell to 6-10 and 3-3 in MVC play a night after beating No. 25 Wichita State in four sets.

    Missouri State edged the Bluejays by three points in the first set thanks to seven team blocks. Michnowicz provided four kills in the period and participated in four blocks, while junior Bethany Fuller was a part of all seven MSU blocks and eight in the match.

    Michnowicz added seven kills in the second set as the Bears pulled away late following a 14-13 deficit. Addie Foley tallied four kills and Melissa Gmur dished out 16 assists in the five point win.

    The MSU offense hit .515 with 21 kills in the third set to raise its attack efficiency to .246 for the match. In the third, Foley, Michnowicz and Calli Norman all totaled five kills and Gmur notched 19 assists to finish the match with 47. The Bears took control of the set with a 7-0 run that turned a 10-7 deficit into a 14-10 lead.

    Foley finished the match with 13 kills and Norman added 12 as the Bears had 52 as a team, easily the highest total of the season for a three set match. Cara Hackmann led all players with 22 digs and the Bears out-blocked CU 10-9.

    The Bears return home Friday (Oct. 9) for an MVC match-up with Southern Illinois.