St. LOUIS -- Missouri State added to its collection of Missouri Valley Conference volleyball awards on Monday, as junior Lily Johnson was selected as the Player of the Week for the ninth time in her career, and Daniele Messa earned Freshman of the Week recognition for the fifth consecutive week and sixth time overall in 2016. Five different Bears have now been honored a total of 13 times by the MVC this season.

Johnson averaged 6.17 kills and 4.00 digs per set with a .333 attack efficiency and .440 kill percentage in two Missouri State wins, and is now one award shy of former UNI standout Molly O'Brien's record 10 career MVC Player of the Week honors. 

Saturday at Bradley, Johnson hit .310 with 19 kills and 13 digs in three sets of action. Sunday, the outside hitter became the second player in school history with 1,600 career kills, notching her 19th double-double of the year with 18 kills and 11 digs at Loyola. The Wildwood, Mo., native added a solo block against the Ramblers and hit .357 with just three attack errors in 42 swings.

Messa dished out 82 assists in the two victories, averaging 13.67 assists and 2.83 digs per set while directing the Bears to a .317 team hitting percentage. Saturday, the setter from Bartlett, Ill., piled up 50 assists in three sets to help the MSU offense to a .323 attack efficiency at Bradley. Sunday, she became the second freshman in school history with 1,000 assists by dishing out 32 helpers at Loyola. The rookie added 10 digs for the double-double as the Bears hit .309 in the sweep.

The Bears sit in sole possession of first place in the MVC with a 21-7 overall record and 12-2 league mark after winning 12 consecutive matches. MSU hosts Indiana State at 7 p.m. Friday and Illinois State at 7 p.m. Saturday to close the home portion of the schedule.