OMAHA, Neb. -- Missouri State's historic 2017 volleyball season came to an end Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at D.J. Sokol Arena, as 12th-ranked Michigan State handed the No. 25 Bears a 25-19, 25-11, 25-15 loss.

The Bears (28-6) finished the year with the school's most victories since 1982, claimed the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles in unbeaten fashion, and took a 21-match win streak to the NCAA Tournament. Missouri State's senior class of Lauren Boone, Brianne Dixon, Lily Johnson and Lynsey Wright left their mark with three trips to the NCAA Tournament, three combined MVC titles, 98 total victories, and the program's first top-25 ranking since 2003.

The first set was tied six times to 9-9, with the Bears holding a pair of one-point leads early, before the Spartans (22-8) asserted themselves to gain a 15-10 advantage. Missouri State cut the deficit to three points at 16-13 and again at 21-18, but the Bears could get no closer as Michigan State used its lineup of five starters standing 6-foot-2 or taller to accumulate five blocks in the set.

The Spartans broke open the second set with two blocks and two aces in a 7-0 run to a 13-6 lead. The Bears were never closer than six points from there, as five more Michigan State blocks helped limit Missouri State to a .000 hitting efficiency in the period.

Michigan State used two more aces in a 4-0 run midway through the third set to open a 15-9 lead, and kept the Bears at arm's length after that, putting the contest away with late 6-0 run to earn match point at 24-14.

The Spartans hit .340 in the match, served nine aces and recorded 14 blocks, handing the Bears their first straight-set loss of the year. 

Aubrey Cheffey led the Bears with nine kills on .438 hitting, and Emily Butters added to her school record with 14 digs in the match, giving her 737 on the season for the third-highest total in MVC history.

Lily Johnson concluded her illustrious career with 2,293 kills, 19th in NCAA history, and finished 23 attacks shy of the NCAA record. Wright's 1,346 kills put her eighth on MSU's career list.

Despite the loss of the decorated senior class, Missouri State returns a pair of first-team all-MVC performers in Butters and Cheffey for next season, as well as every start at both setter and one middle blocking position.