HONOLULU -- Missouri State (3-3) closed play at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic Saturday evening with a sweep of Pacific (2-4) by set scores of 25-14, 25-23 and 25-19 inside the Stan Sheriff Center.
Freshman
Aubrey Cheffey had the best match of her young career with 11 kills and five blocks to go with a .600 hitting percentage, and
Lily Johnson added 10 kills and 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
The MSU defense stifled Pacific in the first set, recording five blocks and 19 digs while holding the Tigers to a negative attack efficiency. Cheffey contributed to four of those stuffs while adding five kills on five swings, including two kills and a block during a 4-0 run for 17-9, and another kill/block sequence for a 21-10 advantage.
The Bears overcame a 5-1 deficit in the second for a 25-23 win. MSU's first lead came at 10-9 on a
Lynsey Wright ace, and
Simone House's block made it a 12-10 advantage. Pacific twice regained a one-point lead before consecutive kills from Johnson and Wright made it 19-16 as the Bears would not give the lead back.
It was the Bears who started fast in the third period, with Wright and Cheffey's block making it 8-2 in the early going. Missouri State led by no fewer than five points after a Johnson kill made it 11-4, hitting .323 in the final set and .283 in the match.
MSU held the Tigers to a .108 attack efficiency, while also holding the advantage in kills (40-31) and digs (54-42). Cheffey and Wright each participated in five of MSU's eight team blocks,
Emily Butters led MSU with 17 digs, and
Daniele Messa dished out a career-high 37 assists.
The Bears make their home debut Thursday at 7 p.m. against McNeese State in the opening match of the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational. MSU also takes on No. 11 Ohio State, Western Illinois and IUPUI in the event.