Sept. 2, 2011

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -

The Missouri State volleyball team earned a 25-15, 25-23, 25-18 victory over UC Riverside Friday evening in the first match of the USD Invitational in San Diego, Calif.

The Bears (3-1) limited UCR (1-4) to a .000 hitting percentage in the first set behind the strength of five blocks, including three assists each from Calli Norman, Christine McCartney and Amber Doolittle. Norman was also 3-for-3 in kill attempts in the first set and turned eight swings into six kills for the match.

The second set proved much more of a challenge after Missouri State fell behind 10-3. The Bears used a 3-0 run when trailing 15-13 to grab the lead as Karen Rivatto landed two kills and teamed with Doolittle for a block in between. The teams tied four more times before McCartney gave MSU the lead for good at 20-19 with a kill.

The Bears took a 3-0 lead in the third set and held on despite the Highlanders cutting the advantage to a single point on several occasions. Midway through the period, Doolittle's kill finished off a run that put the Bears comfortably ahead 16-10. UCR closed to three at 20-17 but Rivatto answered with consecutive kills on the way to 14 in the match on .344 hitting as the Bears closed out the sweep.

Norman and Doolittle shared team high honors with five blocks each and the Bears finished with nine stuffs as a team. Ashley Mason had 13 digs and Carly Thomas added 12 along with 32 assists. Missouri State hit .265 versus .135 for the Highlanders.

MSU plays two matches Saturday, beginning with Northeastern at 2 p.m. before facing No. 20 San Diego at 9.

NOTE: Due to a problem at the host institution, final statistics were unable this evening.