LINCOLN, Neb. -- Missouri State's volleyball team ran into a buzzsaw in the championship match of the Husker Invite Saturday evening, falling to fourth-ranked Nebraska by set scores of 25-19, 25-12, 25-4 in front of more than 8,000 fans at the Devaney Center.

Despite the loss, the Bears completed their difficult non-conference schedule with a 7-6 record, and begin defense of their back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference titles against Illinois State on Friday in Springfield.

The Bears fell behind 4-0 in the first set but had a 6-5 lead after Daniele Messa served three consecutive aces. The set was tied for an eighth time after Amelia Flynn's kill made it 14-14, but Nebraska scored the next three points to take the lead for good, hitting .419 in the set to pull away.

Nebraska (9-1) jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second set and remained comfortably ahead throughout, continuing its efficient offense with a .433 percentage and recording five blocks to hold the Bears in check. The Huskers' defense continued to frustrate the Bears in the third set, adding five more blocks to run their match total to 13 and leading from the start.

Ashley Ophoven and Flynn paced the Bears with six kills each, and Emily Butters scooped 12 digs to surpass 2,100 for her career and move up to sixth in MVC history. 

Laynie Dake and Aubrey Cheffey were selected to the all-tournament team, as the Bears finished 2-1 with Friday victories against New Mexico and Central Michigan.