SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State extended its winning streak to 15 matches overall and 30 straight in Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday evening with a 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 victory against visiting Southern Illinois at Hammons Student Center.

The volleyball Bears (22-5, 14-0 MVC) hit .326 as a team to set themselves up for at least a share of the MVC title with a win in their next match, a 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 contest against second-place UNI in Springfield. All fans wearing Missouri State apparel receive free admission to that match and the Nov. 12 home finale against Drake at 2 p.m.

Missouri State never trailed in the first set after taking a 3-0 lead, though SIU (5-20, 4-10) rallied to tie the score on seven different occasions. The last of those ties was answered by a 5-0 MSU run, with Lauren Boone scoring three consecutive kills for the 23-18 lead. 

Much like the first set, the Bears took a 3-point lead in the second at 8-5 before holding off several Saluki challenges. The visitors tied the score six times after that but never took the lead, with Lynsey Wright and Boone landing kills on either side of an SIU error to pull away from a 22-22 tie.

The third set was tied six times to 11-11, and SIU briefly grabbed a 16-15 lead before the Bears fired three consecutive kills to lead 18-16. The teams sided out to 22-20 when MacKenzie Irwin's kill held serve for the Bears for 23-20, providing enough cushion for the win.

Senior Lily Johnson led MSU with 16 kills and 17 digs, Wright hit .478 with 12 kills, and Boone hit .467 with eight kills and a season-high seven digs. Emily Butters climbed two places to 16th in MVC history with 22 digs on the night, and Daniele Messa and Emelie Orlando each dished out 20 or more assists.

Missouri State finished with advantages of .326-.250 in hitting percentage, 55-46 in kills, 72-68 in digs and 2-1 in service aces.