SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State volleyball team enjoyed its first competition against a team other than itself Saturday evening in the Alumni Match at Hammons Student Center.

The current and former Bears played four sets, with the 2017 squad winning the first three by scores of 26-24, 25-21 and 25-13 before the Alumni stole the final period, 25-23.

Missouri State experimented with a number of lineups against an Alumni club that included three All-Americans, six first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference performers, one national libero of the year, one MVC Freshman of the Year, and more than 10 years of overseas professional volleyball experience.

For Missouri State, Lily Johnson led the way with 14 kills on .375 hitting, while fellow seniors Lynsey Wright and Lauren Boone shared high blocking honors with four apiece. Wright added 13 kills, Boone had eight without an error and freshman Veronica Snelling chipped in seven, and the Bears hit .277 as a team.

Preseason first-team all-MVC setter Daniele Messa had a double-double with 41 assists and 10 digs, while Emily Butters (13) and Brianne Dixon (10) also posted double-figure dig totals.

Among the notable performances from former Bears, Christine McCartney had 10 kills, Andrea Beaty had a match-high seven blocks, Carly Thomas dished out 29 assists, while her older sister Sara (Thomas) Dietrich hit .300 with nine kills.

Missouri State opens the 2017 season Friday, Aug. 25, with an 11 a.m. contest at Appalachian State, and heads to Raleigh, N.C., the next day for matches against No. 8 Kansas and North Carolina State.