SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State volleyball team opened Missouri Valley Conference play Friday at Hammons Student with a 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 15-4) win over Indiana State. The Bears (7-5, 1-0) served up a season-high 13 aces and had four players with at least 10 kills to help fend off the upset-minded Sycamores (8-4, 0-1).

After losing an 18-14 lead in the fourth set, the Bears came out firing in the fifth as Tatum Marshall opened the frame with a service ace and Andrea Beaty followed with back-to-back kills. Missouri State led 7-2 and closed on a 7-0 run after ISU pulled to 8-4. Olivia Brand notched kills on either side of the run and MaryJo Kolze served consecutive aces for a 14-4 lead.

The Sycamores used a key 3-0 run from an 18-all tie in the first set to take the early match lead, while the Bears hit .407 in the second period and got five kills from Brand to even the score. Missouri State then closed the third set on a 6-0 run capped by a block from Lynsey Wright and a Maddy Hogan ace for a 2-1 lead.

Lily Johnson posted four kills in the fifth set and led MSU with 17 overall while hitting .351, and Brand added a season-high 16 kills. Wright (11) and Beaty (10) each hit above .400 to join those two in double figures.

Hogan's 15 digs led four Bears in double figures as Kinsey McCarter and Elise Munroe scooped 12 apiece and Johnson added 11 for the double-double. Five MSU players had multiple aces as well, with Johnson's four and Marshall's three leading the way.

McCarter had 53 assists and directed the Bears to a .273 hitting percentage compared to .211 for the Sycamores. MSU also topped Indiana State in kills (63-50), digs (71-58) and blocks (7-4).

Missouri State hosts Illinois State (7-5, 1-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Redbirds won 3-0 at Wichita State Friday.

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