CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Missouri State extended its winning streak to four matches Saturday evening with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-19) victory at Southern Illinois in Missouri Valley Conference volleyball action.

The Bears improved to 14-7 overall and 7-2 in league matches at the midway point of the conference schedule, while the Salukis dropped to 9-12 and 3-6 in MVC play.

Missouri State never trailed in the first set, building an early 6-2 lead and allowing SIU no closer than 8-7 for the remainder of the period. The Salukis handed the Bears nine points on attack errors and hit .031 in the first set, and Elise Munroe's ace put MSU ahead 18-12 after a 4-0 run.

Southern Illinois scored the first two points of the second set and forced the Bears to play from behind until a 4-0 run that included two Olivia Brand kills, a MaryJo Kolze ace and a block by Andrea Beaty put Missouri State ahead 19-18. The Salukis went back ahead 21-19 before committing three errors to give a 23-21 lead back to the Bears. SIU tied the score once again at 23-all, but Beaty had the answer with back-to-back kills for the win.

The third set mirrored the first as MSU never trailed, slowing pulling away from the Salukis to complete the sweep. Lynsey Wright's career-high fifth block put the Bears up 19-12, and Missouri State led by at least four points the rest of the way, hitting .417 in the set with 17 kills against two errors.

Lily Johnson led the Bears with 14 kills and added 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the season, while Brand had 10 kills on .333 hitting and Beaty hit .667 with eight kills on 12 swings.

Missouri State hit .275 in the match with 43 kills compared to SIU's 34 kills and 20 errors for a .130 attack efficiency. Maddy Hogan led all players with 14 digs as MSU held a 47-36 lead in that category. Each team registered seven blocks.

Missouri State returns to action Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. when Bradley visits Hammons Student Center for MSU's annual Dig Pink match for breast cancer awareness.

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