Oct. 14, 2011

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. -

The Missouri State volleyball team improved to 14-5 overall and 7-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference Friday with a 25-16, 25-21, 25-19 victory at Southern Illinois (9-8, 3-5).

Seniors Calli Norman and Kelley Michnowicz (eight apiece) led a cast of six Bears with at least six kills in the match, all of whom hit .238 or better paced by Michnowicz at .533. Missouri State hit .257 as a team, while SIU hit .108 to become the third consecutive MSU opponent to hit .108 or worse.

Missouri State opened the match on a 4-0 run and led by at least three points for the duration of the first set while not committing an attack error until its 17th attempt. The Bears used a 4-0 run to lead 19-10 and another 4-0 spurt to close the set, hitting .282 as a team and piling up 18 kills. Amber Doolittle's service ace provided the final point after the sophomore posted five kills in six swings during the stanza.

The Bears used a 7-0 run in the second set to turn an 8-5 deficit into a 12-8 lead, but the Salukis fought back and grabbed a 19-17 advantage thanks to a 5-0 run. Norman's consecutive solo blocks gave MSU a 21-20 lead before she landed the third of three straight MSU kills to close the period.

The third set was one of many runs, beginning with a 6-3 spurt for SIU that was answered by a 6-1 run for the Bears to give MSU a 9-7 lead. The Salukis regained the lead at 13-10 with four consecutive points, and the Bears again responded with an 8-1 run to lead 18-14. Southern Illinois closed within two points three times, the last at 21-19, before the Bears rattled off the final four points to close out the match.

Ashley Mason led all players with 13 digs, Karen Rivatto had 10 and Carly Thomas had 10 to go with 35 assists for her 13th double-double of the season. Norman had three solo blocks and participated in all five MSU stuffs.

Missouri State plays at Evansville (12-11, 2-6) at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Purple Aces upset Wichita State 3-2 at home on Friday.