PEORIA, Ill. -- Missouri State’s volleyball team found itself in two completely different matches wrapped in one Saturday evening at Bradley, dominating their Missouri Valley Conference rival for two sets before eventually winning in five by scores of 25-13, 25-15, 22-25, 20-25 and 15-9.

    The Bears (9-3, 1-1) hit .349 through two sets to build a 2-0 lead, nearly doubling up the Braves (4-8, 0-2) on the scoreboard while holding the home team to a .109 attack efficiency.

    Two Bradley runs in the third set swung the momentum in the Braves’ favor, as BU went 6-1 to tie after trailing 10-5 and then used a 7-0 run to turn a 19-16 deficit into a 23-19 lead. Bradley then hit .316 in the fourth set to tie the match before MSU’s Calli Norman took over in the fifth.

    Norman had a kill and four blocks to anchor Missouri State’s 8-1 run to start the fifth set, and the defense held Bradley to -.138 hitting. The Braves closed to three points on three occasions but never got closer as the Bears escaped with the win.

    Norman finished the match with 15 kills on .387 hitting along with six blocks. Kelley Michnowicz hit .545 with 14 kills, and Christine McCartney had 11 kills and 11 digs. Cara Hackmann had 21 digs to lead five Bears in double figures. Carly Thomas posted career highs in assists (47) and aces (3), and Shayla Patrick had four aces.

    Missouri State had season highs in kills (65), attacks (177) and digs (92), while improving to 3-0 in five-set matches this year.

    MSU returns home Friday (Sept. 24) for a 7 p.m. contest with Indiana State.