SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State ran into a talented Western Kentucky volleyball team Friday at Hammons Student Center and dropped a 25-18, 25-14, 25-18 decision to the Lady Toppers on the second night of the University Plaza/Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational.

Western Kentucky (4-2) hit .330 for the match and never trailed as the Bears fell to 2-3 on the season.

WKU jumped ahead 5-0 in the first set and withstood numerous Missouri State rallies before pulling away late. The Bears closed the gap to two points on six occasions before a Western Kentucky error made it 13-12. MSU pulled within a single point three more times after that, only to see the Lady Toppers go on a 6-1 run to 22-16 on the way to hitting .353 in the set.

The second set played out much like the first as WKU jumped ahead 3-0 and the Bears got no closer than 6-5 after that. An 11-2 run gave the visitors a 21-9 lead. The Lady Toppers bolted to leads of 6-2 and 12-7 in the third period before the Bears narrowed the gap to 12-11. MSU was unable to knot the score, however, and a 3-0 WKU run to a 20-15 score helped put the match away.

The Bears finished the match with 28 kills and hit .111, while WKU had 44 kills and owned a 52-36 advantage in digs. Olivia Brand led the team with eight kills and Andrea Beaty added six on .455 hitting. WKU's Haley Bodway hit .500 with 13 kills.

The tournament concludes with five matches Saturday, including the Bears playing Incarnate Word at 12:30 p.m. and Milwaukee at 7 p.m.

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