Sept. 8, 2011
Box Score
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SPRINGFIELD -- Despite 26 kills and 14 blocks produced by Kansas State sophomore Kaitlynn Pelger, the Missouri State volleyball team still pushed the Wildcats to a 12-12 score in the fifth set before falling 3-2 by set scores of 17-25, 25-20, 27-25, 19-25 and 12-15 in the opening match of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational Thursday at Hammons Student Center.
Christine McCartney hit the last two of her 15 kills to force a 12-all tie in the fifth before Pelger fittingly ended the match with a kill and two solo blocks.
Kansas State (5-3) hit .406 in the fourth set to even the match after the Bears took a 2-1 lead, and hit .424 in the first to grab the early advantage.
Missouri State (4-3) pounded 19 kills on .432 hitting in the second set, outscoring the Wildcats 23-13 after falling behind 7-2. Calli Norman, Amber Doolittle and Karen Rivatto each had four kills and no errors in the period as the Bears closed on a 5-0 run.
The Wildcats opened the third period on 5-2 run and led 23-20 before the Bears answered late to snatch the victory.
Sophomore setter Carly Thomas dished out a career-high 55 assists and added 11 digs and seven kills to flirt with a triple-double. Rivatto finished with 17 kills and 17 digs, and Norman and Amber Doolittle had 10 kills each.
Kelley Michnowicz had six blocks, though the Wildcats out-blocked MSU 22-10. Kansas State also hit .269 to Missouri State's .213 while both teams had 66 kills.
Ashley Mason had 27 digs as the Bears topped KSU by 30 in that category. Shelby Strang scooped 15 digs to come within one of a career best.
Missouri State continues play in the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. against Arkansas State.
