Final Stats

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Missouri State sophomores Lily Johnson and Lynsey Wright each finished with at least 20 kills Friday afternoon to power the Bears (8-3) past UMKC (7-4) in five sets at the Jayhawk Classic. MSU won by scores of 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13.

Johnson led all players with 21 kills, while Wright added a career-high 20 (on .514 hitting) as the two became the third pair of MSU teammates with at least 20 kills in a match since 2005. All three instances in the last decade have occurred in Missouri State's last 14 matches.

Johnson's 24th consecutive match with at least 10 kills also broke a tie with MSU all-time kills leader Michelle Witzke for the school's longest such streak, while it was her 12th career match with 20 or more kills.

A 5-0 UMKC run late in the fourth set extended the match after the Bears led 21-19, and the Kangaroos continued to lead in the fifth set until Johnson's ace gave MSU its first lead at 7-6. UMKC answered with a 3-0 run for 9-7, but Wright countered with a block and two kills during a 4-0 spurt for an 11-9 MSU advantage. Freshmen Paige Perego and Ashley Ophoven notched kills for a 13-10 lead, Wright followed for 14-11, and Johnson's 21st kill finished the match after the 'Roos fended off a pair of match points.

Missouri State had strong finishes to the first and third sets, hitting .353 with 18 kills in the first period to pull away from an 18-all tie, and ending the third stanza on a 3-0 run from a 23-22 deficit after 14 ties and seven lead changes. The Kangaroos easily took the second set thanks in large part to five blocks and 10 MSU attack errors.

Ophoven added 12 kills to help the Bears hold a 65-59 lead in that category. Emily Butters had 21 digs and Elise Munroe added 19 to pace four MSU players in double figures, while Wright and Simone House recorded five blocks apiece. Wright added a career-high three aces, and Kinsey Batten handed out 61 assists.

The Bears plays two matches Saturday, facing South Dakota State (1-13) at noon and No. 17 Kansas (10-0) at 7 p.m.