Final Stats

SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State held defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Illinois State to an .061 team hitting percentage Friday evening to earn a 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-19) victory over the Redbirds in the league opener for both schools at Hammons Student Center.

The Bears improved to 10-4 while ending ISU's (10-4) winning streak of 20 consecutive matches against MVC competition and 19 consecutive regular-season Valley wins.

Missouri State overcame a 22-15 deficit in the first set and controlled the match from there, as the Redbirds hit no better than .100 in any of the three sets, and the Bears recorded 76 digs and nine blocks.

Facing a seven-point deficit late in the first period, the Bears rattled off a 5-0 run that included kills from Paige Perego and Lynsey Wright before the duo teamed for a block and 22-20 score. ISU attack errors allowed MSU within one point on two occasions before Wright and Lily Johnson blocked the Redbirds for a 24-all tie. Those same two players followed with consecutive kills for the 26-24 win.

The second set belonged to Johnson, as the All-American finished with eight kills, eight digs and a block in MSU's double-digit win. Johnson had five kills by the time the Bears led 11-5, and was on serve during a 6-0 run that ended with Missouri State leading 17-6. The Bears led by as many as 14 points in the set and limited ISU to seven kills and seven errors.

The Bears broke open the third set with an 11-2 run to lead 15-6, and held off the visitors late to complete the sweep. After ISU closed to 20-17, Missouri State countered with a 3-0 run and sided out for the win.

Johnson led all players with 14 kills on a .286 hitting percentage, and Wright pitched in 10 kills for the Bears, who held a 40-32 edge in the match.

Freshman Emily Butters lifted 23 digs and was joined in double figures by Kinsey Batten (14), Johnson (12) and Tatum Marshall (10). Simone House matched a season high with seven blocks.

Missouri State hosts Indiana State (11-5, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Sycamores lost 3-1 at Wichita State on Friday.