HONOLULU -- Facing its second consecutive top-15 opponent, the Missouri State volleyball team pushed 15th-ranked Hawai'i Thursday evening at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic, falling in three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-22, 25-22 in front of 5,604 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Rainbow Wahine (2-2) recorded six blocks and held Missouri State (2-2) to a negative hitting percentage in the first set, and led 19-11 in the second period when the Bears began to even the playing field.
    
Simone House and Lily Johnson combined for seven kills during a 8-2 run that pulled MSU to 21-19 late in the second, and Johnson added another kill to make it 23-22 before the Rainbow Wahine countered with a kill and an ace after calling timeout to take the set.

The third set was tied 17 times on the way to a 19-19 score, and a 4-0 run by Hawai'i gave the home team the largest lead for either side at 22-19. Kills by Aubrey Cheffey and Lynsey Wright pulled the Bears to 22-21, and MSU was within a point again at 23-22 when the 'Bows hit consecutive kills to close the match.

Johnson (12) and Wright (11) each reached double figures in kills for the Bears, while Wright hit .400 and Johnson added 10 digs for her fourth consecutive double-double. Daniele Messa led MSU with 23 assists, and House had three blocks, all in the third set. UH All-American Nikki Taylor had 21 kills and 11 digs.

The Bears hit .171 in the match compared to .312 for the Rainbow Wahine, but held a 59-53 advantage in digs. Hawai'i owned the lead in aces (5-2) and blocks (9-4).

The Bears return to action at 9:45 p.m. CT Friday against No. 8 UCLA (4-0).