SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State's volleyball team opened the spring portion of its season Friday with a 3-1 win against Oral Roberts at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational at Hammons Student Center, serving up 10 aces for the program's first 3-0 start since 2015. MSU won by set scores of 25-23, 22-25, 25-14, 25-23.

The Bears, who finished the fall as the national leaders in aces per set, adding 10 more against the Golden Eagles, marking the first time since September 2007 that Missouri State had 10-plus aces in consecutive contests after serving 12 against Central Arkansas in October. Sophomores Brooklyn Cink and Kennedee Anderson equaled career highs with four apiece.

"I'm proud of the team," said MSU head coach Steven McRoberts. "We fought through a difficult night offensively, but our defense played really well. Our serving at times was really tough and serve receive was steady."

Cink also tied her career high with 20 kills, adding 13 digs for her first career double-double, picking up where she left off after ending the fall ranked in the top two nationally in kill, point and ace average.

Amelia Flynn added 12 kills and 13 digs and Holly Luginbill scooped a career-high 14 digs as Missouri State held statistical edges in kills (47-46), hitting percentage (.108-.097), and digs (66-58). Each club had 11 blocks, with Alyssa Doucette stuffing a career-best eight attacks for the Bears.

Two Cink kills and a Doucette block helped MSU pull away from a 22-all tie and take the first set, and the Golden Eagles closed out the second period on an 11-4 run to overcome an 18-14 deficit and even the match.

Flynn and Cink had two points apiece in a 7-0 run to break open the third set from an 11-all deadlock, as the Bears served four aces and enjoyed a 15-6 kill advantage in the frame.

The fourth set was neck-and-neck once again, and Doucette had two blocks in a 4-0 MSU run for a 20-19 lead. The score was tied the next three points before an ORU error and Azyah Green kill gave the Bears a match point, and Cink's 20th kill capped the win shortly thereafter.

Missouri State takes on South Dakota at 3 p.m. Saturday. Wichita State beat South Dakota 3-0 in Friday's action.